Question of the Week

Brace yourselves, this is one sad story.

Two women were charged with prostitution in Camden County on Thursday after they were arrested in a sting operation at a Lake Ozark hotel last week.

Two other women were also arrested, and three of the women are pregnant. Alexandra Wells and Allysia Waldrop were both charged on Thursday. Waldrop is pregnant, but is not known if Wells is also.

The undercover bust went down at a Lake Ozark area hotel after the sheriff's department received several reports that pregnant women were advertising prostitution on an internet advertising site.

One of the women arrested was eight months pregnant, another six months pregnant, and another was three months pregnant. They ranged in age from 18 to 22 years old.

Do you think these women should be given harsher punishments for their crime because they are expecting?

Question of the Week

This is a slightly controversial topic that many parents debate heavily. How old is too old for a toddler to be drinking from a bottle?

Of all the celebrity babies in the spotlight right now, there is only one that seems to be getting people up in arms over this particular topic: Suri Cruise. Suri is often seen out and about with her mother Katie Holmes clutching a bottle in her hand. Many critics and “fans” are often heard criticizing both Katie and Tom Cruise for allowing their daughter, who is almost 2 1/2, to still suck on a bottle.

Drinking from a bottle after the first year of age has been shown to lead to oral developmental problems in children. At the age of one, often before, kids are able to learn how to drink from a sippy cup, so many people see that as the perfect age to start teaching them.

What do you think? Is there a problem with the fact that Katie and Tom allow Suri to carry a bottle with her 24/7?

Question of the Week

Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are expecting a baby girl tentatively due on October 31.

"Ashlee and Pete are on cloud nine," an insider told Star magazine for its latest issue. "The doctor told them they actually conceived the baby just before Valentine's Day while they were on vacation and has given them an initial due date of Oct. 31. When Pete heard he might have his baby on Halloween, he went nuts. For an emo-rocker type like Pete, that would be just too perfect!"

Pete officially announced Ashlee's pregnancy through a post on his website towards the end of May.

Do you want to find out the sex of your baby as soon as possible?

? OF THE WEEK: Has Your Pregnancy Changed Your Relationship With Your Partner?

When I was preggo with my little girl I felt that my relationship with my hubby, Jon, had changed. Fortunately, not in an estranged way, but in a great bonding way. I felt he was so understanding to my symptoms and aches and pains. I don't think he experienced the Couvade Syndrome (when fathers-to-be are so affected, they experience symptoms of pregnancy right along with their pregnant partners, a phenomenon called Couvade Syndrome), but I would have loved to have seen him go through what I did. I must admit that one thing that definitely changed in our relationship was SEX. There were times that I thought I had the best sex of my life, but once my stomach started to grow I definitely noticed that he was aware of this. He was kind of taken back, which in turn didn't help me sexually. Honestly, I felt less sexy when my belly got pretty big. He did do a good job figuring out when I was in the mood and help me feel sexy by laying on the compliments! A little info on pregnancy and sex:

Some women report that sex during pregnancy is the best they've ever had while others admit that it's not what it once was. The heightened pleasure is usually attributed to increased blood flow to the pelvic area, also known as engorgement of the genitals. If you find that sex has become particularly enjoyable during pregnancy it may be because you finally feel free from worries about conception and contraception, and are feeling sexier than ever. But if you find yourself on the other end of the spectrum and sex is not as appealing, this can be due to several factors. The same engorgement that can push some women over the threshold of ecstasy can give other women an uncomfortable feeling of fullness after having sex and some women may feel abdominal cramping during or after sex. It may just be that you're tired or too nauseated to have sex or even care about it, especially in the first trimester. Things should pick up once you're past the first trimester and the second trimester is often marked by a resurging libido. Your libido may wane again in the third trimester, as impending labor and delivery - and your belly - loom large. By this point, some women just simply feel unattractive. Ironically, your partner's sex drive may actually increase as your pregnancy progresses, as he's drawn to your more curvaceous and feminine body. But some partners do experience a decreased libido if he's overly concerned for your health and that of your baby, or if he's apprehensive about becoming a father, that he'll hurt the baby, or if he's feeling self-conscious about making love in the presence of the unborn child.

Yes, the relationship did change. I felt like I started to rely on him more and I could feel my love for him grow stronger. Because we were going through this amazing experience together, we have a stronger bond than we've ever had before. ... but I wonder if it will change the second time around. I hope it stays just as exciting. So, let me know, how has your relationship changed since you found out you were pregnant? Is it better than ever or have you lost the intimacy you once had? pregnancy baby pregnant new born relationships question of the week pregnancy weeklyexpecting due date sex sex during pregnancy father to be

? OF THE WEEK: Did You Save Your Positive Pregnancy Test Stick?

Nowadays many women who want to find out if they are pregnant or not resort to using on home pregnancy test. Various women have kept their positive pregnancy sticks as mementos. I never thought of saving the test. I only saved it long enough to show my hubby when he got home, then I threw it out. Honestly, once you see the result of the test it is a life-changing event and the pregnancy stick signifies the beginning of a different life. A recent New York Times story describes the phenomenon of women saving their positive pregnancy test sticks.

The article goes on to explain how it is unique to this generation because home testing is so widely used now. Our mothers had to go to the doctor’s office for their pregnancy tests.

I personally have every single one of my positive sticks — even when I retested out of disbelief. They are stuck in a little drawer underneath my vanity skirt. I can tell which one belongs to which baby by the brand. (I guess writing on it with a Sharpie would be easier.)

I kept mine because we did struggle to get pregnant. By the time it finally happened, I was so happy and incredulous that I wanted to keep the proof that I was really pregnant. It was a big deal to finally make that darn stick turn a color.

Have you kept all your positive pregnancy test sticks? Why did you keep them and where did you store them? Does your husband/partner know you saved them? Source pregnancy baby pregnant new born pregnancy test question of the week pregnancy weeklyexpecting due date fertility keepsake positive pregnancy test

? OF THE WEEK: Did/ Do You Have a Favorite Piece of Clothing or Accessory During Pregnancy?

I must say that when I was pregnant with Emily I had several pieces of clothing that were very comfortable, such as my Childish Velour maternity drawstring pants that were a gift from a friend, and a great one, I must admit. I wanted to wear them everywhere because they were so comfy. But when it came to certain occassions, I had to leave my drawstring pants behind. The one clothing item that comes in first place for me, something I just couldn't do without, was the Bella Band! I loved it. I began wearing it once my shirts were becoming too short because of my enlarging belly and when I could fit in my jeans, but couldn't button them. The bella band saved my pregnancy style and a lot of money! The Bella Band can be worn all around the belly, over your pants or even tucked in. It was such an essential part of my maternity wardrobe that I just couldn't do without. So, the question is... Did/do you have a favorite piece of clothing or accessory during your pregnancy that you just couldn't do without? pregnancy baby pregnant bella band pregnancy weekly maternity question of the week maternity clothing accessories belly band maternity style

? OF THE WEEK: How Did You Share Your Pregnancy News?

Telling your spouse, telling your friends, telling your coworkers, and especially telling your family that "I'm Pregnant! We're going to have a baby!" is perhaps one of the best parts about being pregnant. Some people wait to tell everyone that they are pregnant while others can't keep a secret. The old wive's tale is to wait until after 13 weeks because otherwise it's bad luck. Some people tell their spouse/family/friends in clever and creative ways other than "I have good news!" Back in January of '06 I wrote a post about how I shared the news we're pregnant to my husband. Here is a how I surprised him that we're having a baby:

I was so excited about the news that I just wanted to run and tell my husband, Jon. But I knew that I wanted to tell him in a clever way. I was having a baby for Pete's Sake! Not wasting too much time I ran to the store and purchased a "Congratulations on your new Baby" card. I addressed the inside of the card to "Daddy, I'll see you in nine months" signed "your little baby" and dropped it in the mailbox. Everyday from work he gets the mail before entering the house, so I knew that he would see it right when he got home. I was inside pacing back and forth just waiting to hear his keys unlock the front door. As he entered the house he had the card opened in one hand with a huge smile on his face!!!

So, how did you tell your significant other? Family/friends? It's such an exciting time, how did you share your pregnancy news?

question of the week pregnancy baby pregnant pregnancy weekly maternity expecting due date parenting mother newborn fertility childbirth family

? OF THE WEEK: Do you think it is right for states like Nebraska to force newborn blood tests without the consent of a baby’s parents?

Faithful challenge newborn blood test laws Parents argue state-mandated screenings violate religious tenets In Nebraska it is required that newborns undergo blood tests within 48 hours of birth. Ray and Louise Spiering are challenging this law because they say it infringes on their religious beliefs. The couple practice fundamental Christianity and Scientology, saying, “that balance of our beliefs included into the births of our children.” The test is mandatory in 4 states: South Dakota, Michigan, Montana and, of course, Nebraska. These states don't allow parents to opt out of testing. The Spiering parents and another set of parents from Nebraska are taking this to the Supreme Court and Legislature to change the law, so that it will be more flexible when screening newborns.

The mandatory test, in which a few drops of blood are drawn from a baby’s heel, screens for dozens of rare congenital diseases, some of which can cause severe mental retardation or death if left undetected.

The Spierings wanted to avoid loud noises after Melynda’s birth, and also reduce the pain she experienced in order to protect her physical and mental health. The concept comes from the Church of Scientology — minimizing talking around someone who is in pain, said the Rev. Brian Fesler of Minneapolis, a regional representative for the church.

The church teaches that words spoken during moments of pain and unconsciousness affect physical and mental health later in life, he said. The church encourages silent birth, in which those attending avoid talking.

But the church doesn’t discourage parents from having their children tested, Fesler said.

One in every 837 babies born last year tested positive for one of the 34 diseases the state tests for, said Julie Miller, manager of Nebraska’s Newborn Screening Program. But the incidence is much lower for the eight most serious diseases, with one in 112,000 having biotinidase deficiency, which can cause developmental delays.

continue reading article

In my opinion, I believe that testing is necessary especially when detecting diseases early at birth. Many life-threatening disorders, such as mental retardation, can be avoided when tested. I usually agree with "parents know best for their baby," but they need to know whats best for the child when it concerns the baby's health. After meeting and knowing children with diseases, early detection is very important to save lives. What are your opinions... Do you think it is right for states like Nebraska to force newborn blood tests without the consent of a baby’s parents?

? OF THE WEEK: How Did You Get Your In-Laws To Give You Space?

Are you about to have the baby and your Mother-In-Law is showing interest in hanging out in the delivery room? Meanwhile, she's probably the last person you want to see there! Or is it that precious time and you just had your little baby, and you just want a little space to relax, but your In-Laws don't seem to care? Don't worry, because you are not alone. Many Mothers are experiencing the same thing you are! My Mother-In-Law lives in North Carolina, so the distance helps. She does not come over uninvited and over-stays her welcome. Luckily, my Mother lives close to me and has taken her time to help me out when I need it. So, there was no reason for my In-Laws to over stay their visit. I was fortunate enough not to deal with such an uncomfortable situation. The reason why I'm writing about this is that I constantly hear that In-Laws are a problem that new Mothers just need some advice on. My girlfriend just had a baby girl just over a week ago and she's pulling her hair out, because she doesn't know what to do. Her Mother-In-Law is always over and "controlling the situation," as she puts it. These are some responses: My husband and I got in some big fights over this b/c he couldn't understand. They wanted to come over as soon as we got home from the hospital! I just made him tell them that I need some time to get to know the baby and to bond and when I was ready for company we would let them know. After that they didn't bother us as much and they would call and ask if they could come over." -- Anonymous "I had this problem when I had my daughter and am now having another baby in August. I plan to ask everyone to hold off on the visits for a week or two until we are ready. I will have a small BBQ or potluck, when I am ready and they can all see the baby at that time. Most people should understand and if they don't, they will get over it." -- Anonymous "You just have to do what I just did with my sister in law and be honest and straightforward with them and tell them you are going to need space....they might not like it but they'll understand later on....if you are not straightforward with them you'll be more irritated in the long run! Trust me!" -- Anonymous How are you dealing with this situation? What are you doing to get space from your In-Laws? Source pregnancy baby pregnant in-laws mother-in-law father-in-law pregnancy weekly in-law space question of the week parenting mother family

? OF THE WEEK: Do You Agree With Attachment Parenting?

Before I can say anything I would like everyone to watch these videos: Now after watching these videos, what do you think? These parents are difinitely loving and would do anything for their children, but I think they are a bit extreme. I don't think its mentally healthy or even necessary for a child to be breastfed at six years of age. These children are also definitely spoiled! They don't have any boundries and are never told "no." It will be hard for them to adjust to society once leaving their families and accept getting denied and told no. They just might return living at home, probably just what Mommy wants. "Yay! You pooped on the floor!" Just sounds distrubing. I don't think anything is wrong with a diaper and I think it's great to potty train at an early age, but pooping on the floor- not so much. These are very interesting videos on Attachment Parenting. If you had the opportunity would you quit your job and conduct raising your child in a similar fashion? Or do you prefer using bottles, pacifiers, diapers, and eventually public schooling as the norm to raising your child? pregnancy baby pregnant attachment parenting adult parenting pregnancy weeklymaternityparenting mother family 60 minutes breastfeeding potty training

? OF THE WEEK: Would You Preselect Your Baby's Individual Traits?

A couple of weeks ago my question of the week was whether you would choose the sex of your baby, even if it was affordable and easily available. From the comments I recieved, I noticed that most of you would not mess with mother nature. I'm sure many of those Mothers who answered might feel the same way about this question of the week, or will they? ABC recently did a story, Babies of the Future, about choosing your baby's individual traits. Saying in 25 years parents will be able to hand pick the appearance and personality traits of their little adorable one. Is this good? (Click here to watch the ABC's report) In 2031 parents can choose hair color, eye color, intellectual traits, how athletic, and even talents. This may seem very absurd, but this could very much be the next reality. I can defintely see competition between parents and who's kid is more intelligent, attractive, and talented. Can't you? When ABC News asked Mothers about genetic modification, they showed resistence. The Mothers didn't agree on doing it. One Mother mentioned it took away the unexpected out of having a baby. One can certainly agree. But when they asked the Mothers about tinkering with genetic modification to avoid diseases, Mothers changed their opinion and agreed that could be necessary. Children of the future will have a huge advantage over children today, by becoming super resistent to diseases. All this brings up the question, "what does it mean to be human?" Especially if we can decide on personality traits, appearance, and one's health. My question to Mothers is would you preselect your baby's individual traits? This is including resistence to diseases! I know if I had the ability, I would choose the "healthier" embryo to help my child avoid terrible diseases, such as cancer, but I would not mess with their personality or appearance. I would like mother nature to do its part there. pregnancy baby question of the week future science baby's health pregnancy weekly diseasesmother parents fertility childbirth family personality traits intelligence genetic modificationembryo

? OF THE WEEK: How Long Did It Take You To Get Pregnant?

I have a friend who recently got pregnant. As soon as her and her husband starting talking about it, she was pregnant. They successfully did it on their first attempt. Now she is happily edging along at 17 weeks and is super excited! It took us 10 months to get pregnant and I thought that was pretty good. Actually I was pretty darn proud of ourselves for accomplishing our goal within a year! I did seek help from a doctor and took my prenatal vitamins. I found some fun tips to get pregnant on BabyHopes.com. I surely went through quite a few of these as well:

Fuel up on folic acid Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a B vitamin that can help reduce the risk of serious birth defects that affect the brain and spinal cord. For this reason, the FDA recommends that all women attempting pregnancy take folic acid supplements for decreasing chances of birth defects.

Quit smoking, drinking and drugs now Smoking or taking drugs greatly diminishes your chances of getting pregnant and can lead to miscarriages, premature birth, and low-birth weight babies. Plus, research suggests that smoking can affect your fertility and lower your partner's sperm count. In fact, studies have shown that even secondhand smoke may affect your chances of getting pregnant. It is also recommend that women avoid alcohol when trying for pregnancy. Cut down on Caffeine Research shows that too much caffeine can reduce your ability to absorb iron and increase your risk for stillbirth. Avoid coffee, tea, and colas or switch to decaf to increase your chances of getting pregnant. If you are a complete caffeine junkie, then the safe limit would be a cup a day. Try switching to a milkshakes which will boost your calcium as well and assist in conception. Get your weight in check Healthy weight women have an easier time getting pregnant than overweight or underweight women. Studies show that women whose body mass index (BMI) is below 20 or above 30 have a harder time getting pregnant, so it's a good idea to try to get yourself into the 20 to 30 range before you start trying. Timing is Everything You will have little chance of getting pregnant if you had sex on the wrong days and missed the most fertile ones. Figure out your ovulation days with our ovulation calendar to increase your chances of conception. Read our articles on and Signs of ovulation to assist you in knowing your fertile period. Ovulation predictor kitscan also help you figure out when you're ovulating by detecting hormones in your urine that signal ovulation is about to occur. Mind Control Women who suffer from depression are twice as likely to have problems with fertility as women who don't. Get a mental health check if you notice signs of depression. Also, try stress management techniques, such as yoga and meditation, which research suggests can also help in getting pregnant. Buy something sexy Some experts say that if a woman is highly aroused while she's having sex, the sperm has a better chance of fertilizing her egg. Others say it makes absolutely no difference. It definitely wont hurt and may even help in boosting your libido and killing that awkward feeling of having sex for pregnancy. Positioning yourself Many experts suspect that the missionary position (man on top) provides the best opportunity for getting pregnant, though no definitive studies have been done on this question. This position allows for the deepest penetration which deposits sperm closer to the cervix. For additional effectiveness, the woman can try elevating her hips with a pillow so her cervix is exposed to the maximum amount of semen. Other positions could be Rear entry and lying side-by-side. Avoid woman on top, standing, or leaning positions, which discourage the flow of semen to the uterus. Increase the Odds Make your vaginal environment as sperm-friendly as possible. Avoid vaginal sprays and scented tampons, artificial lubricants, and douching. Not only can they cause infections, they may wash away cervical mucus or create a hostile environment for the sperm.

If you find that your is not as conducive of getting pregnant as it should be, you may want to try a specific type of lubricant. Pre-Seed lubricant is the sperm friendly choice of many people trying to get pregnant. After intercourse, elevate your hips on a pillow for about fifteen minutes.

So, my question is how long did it take you to get pregnant? Were you guys geniuses on the first try? Or did you consider yourselves experts at love-making by the time you got pregnant? pregnancy question of the week pregnant preconception pregnancy weekly expecting mother fertility childbirth

? OF THE WEEK: Would You Choose The Sex Of Your Baby?

What would you do if you had 4 boys and you really wanted a girl? Would you look into the option of choosing your baby's sex? In case you were wondering if choosing the sex of your baby is possible, it is, thanks to the advancement in fertility treatments. Now doctors can create embryos of a certain sex that is desired by the parents. The only issue is that it isn't actually affordable or even all that available. If you look into doing this you might find that it would cost tens of thousands of dollars. Not only is it pricey, but you would have to meet strict eligibility requirements too. Many cases you would have to be married and have one child of the opposite sex from the one you're trying for. Other clinics have age limits, therefore you would have to take a hormone test to prove you are not approaching menopause. Here is a list of Pros and Cons for sex selection:

Pros

• If you do get pregnant, PGD guarantees with almost 100 percent certainty that you'll have a baby of your desired gender. • Following a PGD cycle, remaining embryos of the selected gender are automatically frozen. These can used in another attempt, if you miscarry or decide you want more children down the road. Frozen embryo transfers aren't as successful as fresh transfers, but the procedure is less invasive and significantly cheaper. Cons

• A single round of PGD can cost nearly $20,000.

• The procedure is invasive and the removal of eggs from your ovaries can be painful.

• The fertility drugs you have to take can have uncomfortable side effects such as weight gain, bloating, swelling, and blurred vision.

• As with any IVF pregnancy, you're more likely to have multiple births. According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 38 percent of infants conceived as a result of IVF and related procedures were twins.

• About 43% of fresh IVF cycles result in a live birth, and that figure goes down as you get older. But some doctors claim higher success rates with PGD because defective embryos are excluded.

• You'll need to decide what to do with the embryos of the undesired gender: freeze, destroy, or donate for other couples or research.

Please put aside the affordability and availability factor, and lets say its an easy process, would you consider choosing the sex of your baby? Or do you find it against what Mother Nature intended? Check out: Gender selection: Three Mom's Stories pregnancy baby pregnant question of the week choosing the sex of your baby pregnancy weeklymaternity expecting fertility childbirth family

? OF THE WEEK: How Would You Rate Your Partner?

Since Emily was born my husband, Jon, has tried as much as he can to help out... that's within his boundries! Meaning, when he gets tired or if he's watching his favorite football team play, somehow he's unavailable to change diapers. Besides that he is a great guy and I feel blessed to be with him, but sometimes he doesn't see the complete picture of how difficult it can be for me. Wow, I think I am just in a bitchy mood this morning! But my question to you is how would you rate your partner?

• Superman
• Great
• Wonderful
• Good
• Okay
• No help at all

Jon and I have been together for 6 years now, so we know each other very well. This is our first baby together and everything is so new and "first time." This is a really exciting time for us. I do find him super supportive and I am really happy to be sharing this experience with him. I rate my man as "great!" I know that he can be a "Superman," this is how:

Total support can be attained if you follow the following rules:

• Communicate your needs and desires while being open to hear what your spouse's concerns are.
• Alleviate the legitimate fears that your spouse addresses.
• Finally, know that unconditional love for you will allow your spouse to believe in you no matter what. To know you can succeed at anything you undertake and to support you to that end.

Return to your spouse respect and unconditional love and accept nothing less for yourself. You deserve nothing less, and neither does he. Together you can achieve great things.

I need to hear how other Mothers are coping with their partner's support. Rate your partner!

pregnancy question of the week partner support pregnant pregnancy weekly labor baby newborn

? OF THE WEEK: Are You Going To/ Did You Have An Epidural?

Now that I had my baby, I can understand the importance an epidural shot can be for a woman giving birth. Whether a woman wants an epidural or not, it is always a difficult and important decision. I eventually gave in and had the shot, but that wasn't in my birth plan. When my contractions reached 2 minutes apart they were definitely strong and painful. At that point I was crying for the epidural. I originally planned for a naturally birth, but I couldn't take the pain any more. I just thought that the epidural would take all the pain away and everything would be absolutely dreamy. The shot just couldn't work fast enough! I needed relief.

Benefits and Risks While an epidural has obvious benefits for many women, it is not without risks. An epidural may cause:

• A prolonged labor. Some research has shown that epidural labor takes, on average, an hour longer than natural childbirth. If labor stalls after the epidural, your doctor may inject pitocin to make your contractions stronger, which can overstimulate your uterus and cause severe contractions.
• Your blood pressure to drop severely. This happens in approximately one to two percent of cases and can cause your baby’s heart rate to drop. Your doctor will give you intravenous fluids before the epidural and throughout the rest of your labor to prevent this.
• You to be unable to feel contractions or push. This may necessitate the use of forceps or vacuum to deliver your baby and increases the likelihood of having a c-section.
• Your baby to move into the wrong position (malposition) due to relaxed uterine and pelvic muscles. However, some experts believe that the baby may already be in the wrong position, causing additional pain that prompts the woman to ask for an epidural.
• You to have a seizure. However, this happens very rarely.

Did you have an epidural when you gave birth? And for the Mothers-to-be, are you considering on getting an epidural or is your birth plan to go natural, experiencing the full childbirth? pregnancy epidural shot pain pregnant pregnancy weekly labor baby newborn birth plan question of the week

? OF THE WEEK: Was Your Partner In The Delivery Room While You Were Giving Birth?

During my 2nd trimester I was debating whether or not to have my hubby, Jon, in the delivery room with me. I was more on the "no" side, because I didn't want him to see me in so much pain. I don't think I want anyone to see me like that, except for maybe a doctor or nurse or two. He recently opened up during a discussion and told me that he wants to see the birth of his first baby. I thought what he said was so touching that I changed my mind. I will have my hubby next to me while giving birth. I spoke to my Mother about the issue of having your partner in the delivery room throughout the birth process and asked what she thought about it. She told me that she didn't want my Father in the delivery room with any of the three births. She didn't want to "deal" with my Father. Meaning she didn't want him around to stress her out even more. She told me that he would just make her feel more uncomfortable. My Dad didn't want to be there either, and witness the painful birthing process. He said that he would worry too much about my Mother and if everything was going alright. Giving birth is a very special occasion. Since Jon confessed and told me he wanted to be present, I woudn't want him to miss out on any of his child's births (if we were to have more). For me to have the power to control whether or not he is present is a very big deal. It would be heart breaking if he were to miss out, because I have my own personal issues and insecurities. Was your partner in the delivery room while you were giving birth? If not, did they not want to be by your side or did you send them to the waiting room? delivery newborn Question of the week childbirth family delivery room pregnancy

? OF THE WEEK: Have You Endured Painful Problems During Pregnancy?

The clock is ticking and the count down is on! My baby is coming this weekend. The doctor has reassured me that everything looks good and I'm ready to go. I can't wait! I feel more like saying, "when is this pregnancy going to end?" Because my belly is so big and I can hardly get a good nights sleep. It's been difficult for me to post as much as I use to. Within this last month I have developed Carpal Tunnel in both of my hands, so it makes it really hard to type out the posts I would like. Believe me, it takes so much longer to post. I look absolutely ridiculous when wearing these braces and I have to constantly take breaks. This Carpal Tunnel thing is a real pain! Not only am I dealing with CTS, but I recently developed a "pregnancy rash." In difficult medical term its called, PUPPP (pruritic uticarial pupules and placques of pregnancy). Well, let me just tell you what PUPPP put me through! Early this morning my rash started acting up around 3am and I start itching like crazy. I realize that I was going no where with this, so I applied my cortisone cream and laid on the bed. I really wanted to get under the covers again, but I knew if I did I would just start itching again. So, I laid there in the cold restraining from itching and trying to fall back asleep. My question is how many other Mothers have endured painful pregnancy problems?

• Leg Cramps
• Morning Sickness
• Stretch Marks
• Back Aches
• Skin Changes
• Pelvic Pressure
• Insomnia
• PUPPP- "Pregnancy Rash"
• Carpal Tunnel
• Fatigue/Shortness of Breath
• Swollen Ankles
• Spider veins/Varicose veins

Out of the 12 symptoms I just posted, I can say that I have experienced 10! I guess I was saved from the swollen ankles and spider veins... Thank God! Have you experienced more symptoms than those above? Let me know. Some Mothers I've read have had easy pregnancies. Are you one of those Mothers who have had a symptom-free pregnancy? Or did you experience it ALL like me? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am very proud that I have almost made it through this pregnancy. Now the hardest part is still to come.... Giving Birth! Question of the week Pregnancy Pregnancy Symptoms pain Pregnancy Problems

? OF THE WEEK: Do You Want Another Baby, But Your Partner Doesn't?

Since I've been pregnant, I've spent quite some time on pregnancy forums. I have definitely taken part of the September 2006 board! I love hearing how other Mothers are coping with their pregnancies and doctor check-ups. It's great, we can compare notes! One of the Mothers on the board was mentioning that her husband doesn't want anymore children after this baby, but she doesn't agree. What do you do when you want another baby and your partner doesn't? I am curious to see if other Mothers/ Fathers have faced this same issue. After looking into it it seems quite common. The Mother on the board said, "I dream about being pregnant with another and my husband is so happy to have changed his mind." She seemed to be going through a difficult time, realizing that she may not have another baby. In my opinion I think she should just have another baby especially if she only has one. I would like her to be happy and fulfilled in life as a Mother. But unfortunately, so many factors come into play when deciding to have a baby or not. Responsibility and financial issues are the most important factors. I found this great site, Preconception.com, that has the top 3 steps to help Mothers and Fathers cope:

1. Set the Ground Rules Change the environment where you normally have discussions, the authors say. This prevents negative feelings from being associated with certain areas. Being aware of the hour is also important, to ensure that both of you are attentive. Finally, say what you want – without assuming your partner is a mind reader. According to Wade and Kovacs, other ground rules include:

• State the reasons for your desires.
• Actively listen to each other.
• Remain calm, and take frequent breaks.
• Be open to each other’s point of view.
• Review childhood experiences.
• Stay focused.
• Take things slowly.
• Plan a target date for coming to an agreement or evaluating progress.
• Be honest with yourself about your decision.

2. Seek Outside Advice If you’re not making any progress through discussions, it’s time to seek outside help. Finding the right counselor for this specific problem is important, say Wade and Kovacs. They advocate the use of a licensed professional, such as a marriage or family therapist, nurse psychotherapist, clinical social worker or a clinical psychologist. If your spouse refuses to go to therapy, there is high probability of no change, say Wade and Kovacs. 3. Learn to Cope After discussion and therapy, if the decision is to not have another child, how can you cope? Fletcher recommends asking yourself what you wanted out of having a child, and then looking for other ways to satisfy that need. Try to make a conscious decision that you can live your life in a satisfying way without the addition of another child.

What would you do if you wanted another baby, but your partner didn't? Would you try to get pregnant anyway? Or would you try communicating and accept whatever the decision is whether you agree with it or not?

? OF THE WEEK: Did You Or Will You Circumcise Your Son?

I'm getting closer to my due date, September 15th, (Yay!) we don't officially know the sex of the baby. I have a feeling that I am having a boy. If it's a boy we agreed on naming him Anthony. For some reason I've always loved that name. ANYWAY, if it's a boy, we've talked about whether or not to circumcise him. With lots of discussion, we finally came to the decision that he will not be circumcised. I am wondering whether other mothers have or will circumcise their son and why? I know that the decision to whether or not circumcise our son (if we have one) was a difficult choice. All parents who have sons have faced this issue. In our case we have looked at the benifits of circumcision and couldn't find enough substantial evidence to do it. 60% of baby boys are circumcised in the first few days or weeks after birth. When a parent decides to circumcise their son many factors are considered, such as: benefits, risks, culture, religion and personal preference. When making your decision, which factor played into your decision-making? Familydoctor.org shows studies that have conflicting results on the benefits of whether to circumcise or not:

"The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says the benefits of circumcision are not significant enough to recommend circumcision as a routine procedure and that circumcision is not medically necessary. The American Academy of Family Physicians believes parents should discuss with their son's doctor the potential benefits and the risks involved when making their decision.

A recent AAP report stated that circumcision does offer some benefit in preventing urinary tract infections in infants. Circumcision also offers some benefit in preventing penile cancer in adult men. However, this disease is very rare in all men, whether or not they have been circumcised. Circumcision may reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. A man's sexual practices (e.g., if he uses condoms, if he has more than one partner, etc.) has more to do with STD prevention than whether or not he is circumcised."

I feel that it is important to keep my baby the way he is and not "fix" anything. Where do you stand? Will you put your little one under the knife to help reduce health risks later in his future? Or will you leave it and let it be?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For more information check out PregnancyWeekly, and for steps on how to care for you baby's penis if circumcised or not please check out familydoctor.org.

? OF THE WEEK: Are You Feeling the Pressure From Juggling Work And Family Life?

I read an article that working women are increasingly feeling the pressure from juggling work and family life. A survey from CareerBuilder.com revealed the 52% of women are willing to take a pay-cut to spend more time with their children, and nearly 1 in 10 are willing to take a pay-cut of 10% or more! Do you feel that you fit into this category? I am currently 36 weeks pregnant with my first, so I have not faced the world of working with a child. I look at many other Mothers who are able to do this day in and day out, but it seems very difficult. I don't know if I want to go back to work once I have my baby, but I think I don't have much of a choice. Money seems to be very important these days, so going back to work is something that I will have to do. I'll be looking for a full-time Nanny soon enough! Claire Newell (the Times) wrote that women were being prevented from making the same progress towards equality at home as what they have achieved in the workplace and that economic reality meant that women are pushed to adopt a traditional role of doing most of the child rearing. Are you a Mother who is constantly juggling work and home with a full-time Nanny? Or have you decided to stay at home to be the one to raise your children?