Pregnancy

Find Popular Baby Names - Last Year, 10 Years Ago, Or The Year You Were Born

There are lots of fun ways to choose baby names.

I mean, you don't want a name that's too trendy or a name that your child will hate. Yet you want a fairly unique name, right?

Well, here's another handy resource for you -- one that I bet most people wouldn't think of.

It's the Social Security Administration!

Continue reading: Popular Baby Names

What You Need To Know About Breastfeeding And Swine Flu

With the advent of the Swine Flu, every mother and expectant mom-to-be is probably wondering about breastfeeding their infant if they have (or happen to get) the Swine Flu.

Well wonder no more. Here are some tips regarding swine flu and feeding your baby:

• Take precautions such as washing your hands often in hot water and with soap. Don't cough or sneeze in your baby's face if you are sick with the Swine Flu. Consider wearing a mask when breast feeding.
• Continue breastfeeding your baby even if you are ill or have been exposed to Swine Flu. Babies who are breast fed have more immunities and have a better chance of surviving the illness than those who are formula fed.
• Even if your baby gets Swine Flu or some other bug, continue to breast feed, because the breast milk helps the baby's immune system to stay strong. If you aren't able to breast feed for some reason, consider getting donated breast milk from a certified milk bank.

Organic Pregnancy - Tips For Living A Natural Life While Pregnant

Many women are choosing to live as naturally as possible while they are pregnant. And in some cases, they are continuing with the all-natural lifestyle after the pregnancy as well.

Living a natural life can mean going organic with clothing and food choices, reducing chemicals in the home, and a whole host of other things. 

Check out these tips for living a natural life while pregnant:

• Choose nontoxic skin and hair products. The less toxins you are exposed to, the better.
• Choose products for your stretch marks like Tummy Rub Butter or Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Stretch Oil.
• Purchase eco-friendly maternity clothes. While they're a little difficult to find, they are not impossible to locate. Plus, they're friendly for you, the baby, and the environment.
• Choose eco-friendly and/or green products around your home. Since our bodies do absorb chemicals, it's a good idea to use products such as white vinegar to clean your bathroom (for example) or baking soda to scrub your bathtub (rather than bleach).

Unplanned Pregnancy Tips

Sometimes, unplanned pregnancies happen.  (Just ask Kourtney Kardashian!)

While every pregnancy is a time for happiness -- even the unplanned ones -- it's still a good idea to keep a few things in mind for the future.

• Next time, remember to take your birth control pill or to use a condom. That is, if you don't want to get pregnant.
• If you do have an unplanned pregnancy, rely on those you trust for advice. Don't go to a relative you know won't approve for example. Instead, surround yourself with those who love you unconditionally.
• Consider all of your options. Don't be afraid to do this -- because, ultimately, only you can make the best decision for you.
• Accept whatever option you do choose and embrace that choice.

Pregnancy Discomfort - 4 Ways To Stay Comfortable When You're Pregnant

Being pregnant means being uncomfortable at least some of the time. It's a good thing there are things you can do to help minimize pregnancy discomfort and make yourself feel better.

Getting your hands on these goodies and ideas will help you to stay comfortable while your pregnant:

• Invest in some shoes that are comfortable and have the proper support.
• Enjoy the time you have before the baby is born. Do things that make you feel good like taking a warm bath or watching your favorite movies.
• Consider learning some yoga positions for late pregnancy. Towards the end of your pregnancy, they'll help you relax and feel calm prior to your delivery. Also, yoga pants are great maternity clothing since they look good and are comfortable.
• Purchase a body pillow to help you sleep at night. It can be difficult to sleep or find a good position when you're pregnant. A body pillow can help with that.

Prepare Dog For Baby - How To Help Your Dog Adjust To Your Pregnancy

We all know our dogs are a part of the family. But sometimes your dog may not know quite know how to take your pregnancy.

Fortunately, there are 5 things you can do to get your dog on board with your pregnancy.

• Work with your dog to decrease attention-seeking behaviors like barking, pawing or jumping for example.
• Familiarize yourself with your dog's body language and subtle signals.
• Start using a flexible feeding and activity schedule with your dog that is baby-friendly. Work on obedience training during the activity periods.
• Expose your dog to what it will be like having a baby around. Try role-playing with a baby doll and other baby things. When your dog displays the desired calm behavior, reward him!
• Set up designated "dog zones" and get your dog used to them before the baby comes. If you have more than one dog, get them used to sometimes being separated from one another.

How To Improve Your Odds Of Conceiving After A Miscarriage

There's nothing worse than having a miscarriage. It makes you feel really horrible. The good news is it is still possible to conceive, even if you've had a miscarriage!

The goal is to improve your odds of conceiving after a miscarriage in these ways:

• Stop smoking if you smoke.
• Make sure you take a folic acid supplement that has at least 400 mcg.
• Limit (or eliminate altogether) caffeine and artificial sweetners.
• Limit the amount of seafood you eat because of the high mercury levels found in some seafood.
• Keep your exercise workouts in the light range. You should avoid things like kick boxing and horseback riding for example, as well as other strenuous workouts.
• Schedule a preconception examination. This way, your doctor can rule out infections that have the ability to interfere with conception or are dangerous to a pregnancy.
• Stop drinking alcohol. Since you could be pregnant and not know it, once you start trying it's a good idea to abstain from alcohol altogether.
• Lose weight if you are significantly overweight or obese.

7 Healthy Pregnancy Tips

Staying as healthy as possible during your pregnancy is probably one of your most important goals.  After all, the healthier you are, the more healthy your baby will be.

Here are some 7 helathy pregnancy tips to help you keep that goal!

• If you smoke, stop smoking.
• Only eat another 200-300 calories more than you usually do when you're not pregnant. Chances are, you may already be eating those extra calories too -- so make sure you check before you add them!
• Take a good prenatal vitamin that also contains the minerals your pregnant body needs.
• Don't drink alcohol. No one knows for sure how much alcohol is safe for pregnant women to drink. No matter what someone says, it's best not to drink at all.
• Get 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day.
• Minimize your exposure to toxins such as paint, bleach, and even air freshners which can have breathable toxins such as silica.
• If you're feeling stressed, consider bach flower remedies and other holistic options to help you manage your stress.

Pregnant With Diabetes? 4 Tips For The Pregnant Diabetic

Pregnancy can be hard enough in and of itself, but if you're diabetic before you even get pregnant, well this can present a whole host of other issues.

If there is too much sugar in your blood, this can actually cause birth defects in your baby during the first trimester.

Here are some ways to avoid the risks of being diabetic and pregnant:

• Make sure you have specialized care. In reality, your regular doctor will most likely refer you to specialists that can help you to manage your diabetes while you are pregnant.
• Stay on top of your blood glucose levels. Make sure you test your blood sugar often.
• Talk to a dietitian. Find out what you should eat and how much you should eat so that you can keep yourself and your baby healthy throughout your pregnancy.
• Make sure you understand the causes of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. For example, women who have diabetes before they get pregnant and don't know it are at risk for having low blood sugar -- which has its own set of problems such as low energy.