Pregnancy

Which Antibiotics Are Safe To Take During Pregnancy?

Moms-to-be do their best to protect their babies by cutting out things which might increase the risk of birth defects or miscarriage.

However, sometimes a mom's bacterial infection is just as dangerous, and doctor's have to weigh the risks and make a decision when it comes to providing treatment.

According to a study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one class of antibiotics is perfectly safe:

• Penicillins are safe for pregnant women to take. Penicillin poses the least risk to an unborn child.

But...2 other types of antibiotics are not safe for pregnant mothers:

• Sulfa drugs (brand names include Bactrim and Thiosulfil Forte)
• Urinary germicides (brand names Macrobid and Furadantin)

Those antibiotics are more likely to cause birth defects such as cleft palate, hernia, and heart defects.

So, if you're prescribed antibiotics for a bacterial infection (such as from a Brown Recluse spider bite, though it would be quite rare if one bit you), it's in your best interest to question the type of antibiotics you're being given. Chances are, your doctor will do the right thing, but the point is to know what you're putting in your body.

Best Baby Bottles According To Moms & Experts

With so many choices for baby bottles on the market, does it really matter which one you choose? 

What's the difference between all these baby bottles?

Which are the best ...and why?

What do the experts say? 

As a mom, each of us is partial to what we used for our own kids.  In fact, we probably wouldn't have used them if we didn't swear by them.  I, for one, was shocked when my favorite baby bottle, Avent, was not on this list of the 5 best baby bottles:    

#1  BornFree Bisphenol-A Free Baby Bottles
#2  Playtex Drop-Ins Premium Nurser Bottles
#3  The First Years Breastflow Baby Bottles
#4  Dr. Brown's Natural Flow
#5  Evenflo Classic Glass Nurser Bottles

According to Consumer Research, those rankings are based on a combination of online consumer reviews.

Continue reading: Best Baby Bottles

Too Much Baby Stuff? Best Ways to Control Baby Clutter

Everyone loves babies, and everyone wants to buy things for babies.

Because of this, it is easy to end up with a lot of baby stuff before your baby is even born.

If you're pregnant and trying to be more frugal, make do with what you have, and keep your life free of clutter, what in the world are you supposed to do with all that baby stuff you receive as gifts?

Here are 7 ways to control baby clutter.

A few of my favorites from that list:

• Don't have a baby shower if you don't want one. If you have a relative or friend that insists, ask for there to be a theme.
• Take back unwanted items to the stores they were bought at and exchange them for wanted items.
• Purchase items as you need them, not in anticipation of needing them.
• Donate items that you don't want to charity, or sell them on eBay or Craigslist.

Try to stick to the bare necessities when it comes to buying things for your new baby. And encourage your friends to do the same!

How To Count Your Baby's Fetal Kicks

Most every pregnant woman is concerned with the health and well-being of her unborn child.

Sometimes so much so, that it can lead to a lot of stress and worry.

Knowing your baby's fetal kick count can help to alleviate a mom-to-be's fears about the baby's health.

• You can do your own fetal kick count by first choosing the time each day when your baby is most active.
• Then before you begin counting your baby's movements (not including hiccups), write the time down on a piece of paper.
• Keep track of how many times your baby moves in the womb. If your baby makes less than 10 movements in 4 hours then you should call your physician to see what the next thing you should do is.

A Fun & Easy Way To Set Up A Baby Savings Account For Your Newborn

Most parents don't think of setting up a savings plan for their newborn child. Yet when their child turns college-age, they sure wish they would have!

If you set up a baby savings account while your child is still a newborn -- and contribute a very small amount ($12/yr) to that account monthly -- then your child will never want for anything.

Plus, over time you will be teaching your child the good habit of saving money. It's kind of fun too!

The simplest way to start a baby savings account is to do this:

• When your baby is born, open a savings account in their name.
• Then, for their first year of life, put $1.00 into your baby's savings account each month.
• On your child's first birthday start putting $1.50 each month into your baby's savings account.
• When your child turns 2, start putting in $2.00 each month.
• Once they turn 3, put in $3.00 each month -- and so on until your child turns 18.

When the time comes, your child will have no problem paying for college or whatever else they might choose to do as an adult.

5 Low-Cost Baby Gifts For The Mom-To-Be

Baby gifts can be expensive, and we are all looking for ways to save money, right?

Buying baby gifts is one of my favorite endeavors. I love looking at all those cute little things. But sometimes it can be stressful too -- especially when I'm short on money.

Here are 5 gifts for the expectant mother that won't break the break.

• Onesies
• Baby bottles
• Baby blankets
• Cute photo frames
• Coupons for laundry, babysitting, and other tasks you're willing to do

4 Secrets To Saving On Baby Delivery Costs

Most of the time when you think about a baby, you think about how expensive having one is going to be.

However, there are things you can do to help defray the costs of having a baby.

Here are 4 things you can do to defray baby costs:

• Skip the private hospital room because it will cost more.
• Choose a hospital you like and can afford.
• Spend time with your baby while you're in the hospital.
• Sign up for and get all those freebies from the hospital where you gave birth!

See also: Can You Ever Really Be Financially Ready To Have A Baby? There are 6 tips for getting your life (and your house) ready for a new baby.

DIY Tip: How To Create A Maternity Clothes Survival Kit

As you put on more weight with your pregnancy, you're probably thinking that you need to buy maternity clothes. In reality, that may not be the case.

Instead, you can put together a "maternity clothes survival kit" that has clothes that both look good and make you feel great!

Here is what you need:

• Spaghetti tanks in different colors
• Jeans
• Maternity pants (Okay one maternity clothes item!)
• Stretch pantyhose (You know, the ones that will fit comfortably around your belly and aren't too tight.)
• Good fitting underwear (A must!)
• Nice cotton tops that you can wear over the spaghetti tanks in complimenting colors

Also see The Best Place to Buy Plus Sized Maternity Clothes.