Diarrhea is not a symptom that you would encounter regularly during early pregnancy but some women do experience it. Hormones might be one of the reasons of diarrhea or unclean food could have triggered it.

Most often, pregnant women suffer from constipation because of the prenatal vitamins that they are supposed to take. The high levels of iron content in these tablets can cause chronic constipation and fecal impaction where the stool partially obstructs the bowels.  This will often result in diarrhea that is accompanied by vomiting and abdominal bloating. Consult your doctor immediately if you are having all of these symptoms.

Diarrhea in early pregnancy is caused due to hormones then it might be accompanied by some uncomfortable cramps. Along with diarrhea if you were also vomiting, then it would best to consult your doctor immediately. Firstly you should avoid getting dehydrated since you are losing a lot of fluids. Dehydration will cause premature birth.

If your diarrhea is mild, with just once or twice in a day, then make sure that you take lots of fluids. It will probably pass off in one or two days. But if you are passing stools 3 – 4 times in a time and if it turns out to have mucous clotted with blood then contact your doctor immediately.

Diarrhea in late pregnancy is an indication that you are likely to go into labor soon. However if the diarrhea is very severe, it might be triggered because of something you ate. If food poisoning is the reason for diarrhea then it will subside within 24 hours.

Diarrhea causes dehydration and in cases where it is accompanied by vomiting as well dehydration is faster. It is therefore important that you keep drinking lots of fluids to avoid going into a premature labor. Avoid taking milk and milk products during diarrhea as it might worsen the situation. Drink lots of water, juice and hydrating liquids such as Gatorade instead. Eat bland food such as toast, rice or bananas and avoid spicy food during diarrhea.

Diarrhea can be avoided during pregnancy by eating a well-balanced meal. Diet with lots of fiber, fruits and leafy vegetables will avoid constipation and also the resultant diarrhea that is caused due to impacted bowels. Avoid taking lots of caffeine or soda as this will cause more constipation. Avoid any food that you feel has triggered your diarrhea. If you have become allergic to milk and milk products then consult your doctor and see what alternatives protein substitute you can have instead. Avoid eating spicy, oily and fattening foods. This will not only irritate your stomach but you will also inadvertently put on a lot of weight, which you might find difficult to reduce after the baby is born.

Diarrhea during pregnancy is not a happy combination but do not stress yourself by worrying whether the infection is likely to affect your baby. If your diarrhea is due to virus or bacteria infection or due to food sensitivity it will have no impact on the health of the baby since the infection is confined to the digestive tract. Just remember to drink a lot of water and keep yourself from getting dehydrated.

I am a mother, and as I mother I am well aware of the daily struggle of teaching my children to eat healthy. I often see them staring at their bowl of baby carrots, looking at the Oreo cookie commercial on television and then looking at their bowl of carrots in disgust. Why can’t they be as happy as the kids eating the cookies on television? I know, as I am sure other mothers know, once I get my kids started on snacks of cookies and unhealthy meals, they will never want anything else. It will be a struggle for me to get them to eat their vegetables. In fact, I am pretty sure that most will end up on the floor. And while this will please my pet vacuum cleaner, AKA my dog, it will not please me. Continue reading →

It is understandable if you are anxious about your pregnancy especially after a miscarriage. Miscarriage is a very traumatic experience both for the mother and the partner. Apart from losing your precious little one, it also sets in fears about future fertility and pregnancy.

It is but natural for you to wonder whether you would get pregnant again or if you would be able to carry the baby to term this time. Firstly don’t stress yourself about losing the baby again. Anxiety and fears will only make it worse for you. Maintaining your calm and composure is very important, especially when you are pregnant again.

Firstly consult your doctor and have a thorough check up. Just because your first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage it does not mean that your second one will. However it  depends on the reasons as to why the first pregnancy miscarried. There are many factors that can be responsible for miscarriages such as chromosomal abnormalities, infection, immune disorder, hormonal abnormalities and anatomical abnormalities. According to research, women who have miscarried their child in the second trimester are at a greater risk of having a second miscarriage or a premature birth. If you fall in this category, then you will have to be extra careful this time round and monitor your pregnancy more carefully based on your doctors recommendations.

Some women are advised against getting pregnant immediately after a miscarriage while some feel that it is the best way to cope with the loss.

For many couples, trying for a baby after miscarriage is quite a scary preposition. Some want to try immediately, while for some miscarriage can be so traumatic that they want to give themselves some time before trying again. However it is best to consult your doctor about this, before you start trying. In some cases, the doctor would recommend you to wait for a certain time period before you start trying. Before you start trying again, it is recommended that you get a full check up done to eliminate any possibilities of a second miscarriage.

If there have been some risk factors in your lifestyle that have caused you to have a miscarriage then it would make a lot of sense to sort them out before you try for a baby again. If your miscarriage was due to some infection or a sexually transmitted disease then it would be best to wait until you are completely cured before trying again.

For any pregnancy to be successful and safe, the mother ’s physical and emotional welfare must be taken into account. If you are having excessive fears, and anxiety about having a second miscarriage then it would be better to address them before you get pregnant again. If you were struggling with conflicting emotions and fears would only worsen the situation more and compromise your health and pregnancy for the second time. Seeking counseling and therapy can help you rid of your fears and guilt about the first miscarriage.

Just because your first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage it does not follow that the second one should be the same. There are many women who have successfully carried their child to term and have given birth to healthy babies.

If your kids are like mine, they love to snack.  Anything from popcorn to chips to crackers.  It can be really difficult to get them to eat anything at mealtimes that isn’t empty calories.  I can’t say I blame them, I was exactly the same way.  But I do care that they’re getting enough nutrition through their food since they are both incredibly active and burn through a bag of Cheetos in an hour.  Below are some tips I found helpful to getting your kids to eat the healthy stuff too. Continue reading →

You may think the above is a pessimistic title for a blog piece – but it’s really based on extensive research which has conclusively determined that, yes, large numbers of children simply don’t get the levels of exercise which would have been considered the norm just a few decades ago.

This writer grew up some time before the days of there being a TV set in every child’s bedroom, and computer games being such a massive part of young people’s lives. Continue reading →

Children with poor vision often don’t realize anything is wrong. Their vision seems normal to them, and they don’t realize it can be any different. The idea of visiting an eye doctor can seem frightening to them, particularly if they are very young. However, you can set your child’s mind at ease and make the experience a positive one by following these tips. Continue reading →

When our children are old enough to go to school, we both look forward to and dread their first day. They’re growing up and entering the big wide world of education, and soon will be mixing with other children and making new friends.

With this comes the unfortunate reality that if one child catches a cold, has a stomach bug or gets head lice, chances are your child will get it too.

Conjunctivitis is a horrible complaint for a child to have, and it is one that is so often passed around the playground. Here is our guide to what it is, how it affects your child, and how to treat it. Continue reading →

While it’s possible to make the home childproof, the outside world is a lot tougher to manage. Saying that, there are six tips that can help when going out and about with your child, particularly playtimes. Continue reading →

Raising children is extremely difficult, and raising children on your own is that much harder . . . especially when you have no financial support from your children’s father. Fortunately, the courts are on your side, and there are steps you can take to get the child support that is due to you and your children. Here are five tips for women who need to pursue child support enforcement: Continue reading →