The fact is that when seeking morning sickness remedies, women prefer to use natural cures rather than take the assistance of medications that may or may not have adverse effects on the unborn child.

The fact also is that there is little research done into what medication is safe or not safe for pregnant women to consume simply because few pregnant women want to be the guinea pigs in such experiments lest it harm their baby.

For this reason as well, it is best to stick to simple and natural morning sickness remedies.

Watch what you eat, how and when you eat it: Identify the triggers of nausea and vomiting, and avoid them.

Dry crackers, a few potato chips (just a few not too many) may help naturally relieve morning sickness.

Many women find that getting out of bed is the time nausea strikes hardest. So take things slow when getting out of bed; keep some dry biscuits or crackers at hand and have them just as you get up so that your stomach settles.

Sniffing citrus fruits like lime or adding lemons and oranges to your diet can be morning sickness remedies. Taking ginger tea or mint tea is also known to help, though ginger should be used with caution due to its associations preventing blood clotting etc.

Also eat smaller, more frequent meals. A very full stomach already jostling for space with the baby can be uncomfortable and an empty stomach can actually bring on the nausea.

Acupressure and Acupuncture: Acupressure is seen to be an effective but natural and safe morning sickness remedy. To this end several products for easing morning sickness using acupressure are available.

An acupressure wrist band can help to put gentle massaging pressure on the Nei-Kuan acupressure point of the wrist, thereby assuaging nausea. For more information about the wrist band, look at this post of ours.

Acupuncture, which involves the insertion of very fine needles at precise points in the body is also seen to help with nausea, and can even soothe very serious vomiting during pregnancy.

As long as it is used under proper medical supervision, acupuncture may be good for several different pregnancy issues including the pregnancy blues.

Essential Oil:  Sometimes, it is smells that set off the nausea so keep fragrance sachets or the like handy to counter the odor.

Aroma therapy diffusers can also be used to spread fragrance around the house or a few drops can be added to a bowl full of hot water. For this, essential oils of pepper mint, lavender etc can help to soothe a queasy stomach.

Keep in mind that there are no set rules when it comes to pregnancy. What may work for one woman may not work for another. So with some trial and error you are bound to work out what it is that works for you and what does not.

The star who is expecting a baby with fiancé Martyn Lenoble confessed to craving weird things at weird hours. She has a particular craving for avocados apparently.

Pregnancy cravings are all very well and it is possible that some are indicative of any imbalances or nutritional requirements of the mother and baby, however many are inexplicable and may be unhealthy to give in to.

Craving too much in the way of salty snacks can cause water retention and swelling during pregnancy.

Giving in to your cravings for fat and sugar laden snacks does not add much in the way of nutritional requirements for the mother and baby, but can result in needless, extra weight gain, which can be responsible for pregnancy complications as well as become very difficult to get rid of even after the baby has arrived.

So remember pregnancy cravings are all very well when indulged in moderation, but it’s not a good idea to indulge them endlessly however.

It isn’t just an old wives’ tale that if you are stressed, irritable and depressed during your pregnancy, some of that may impact your developing fetus, and scientists are constantly working to fathom how this works.

It could be stress and anxiety that arise out of stressful situations of life: a relationship problem or a breakup, a bereavement, domestic abuse, infidelity, etc. or there could be everyday stress such as dealing with household chores, older children and their needs or even just the feeling of being overwhelmed by the enormity of impending motherhood.

One may just be worried about the process of childbirth, pain management and recovery. It is natural to feel stressed and anxious, and a feeling of loneliness during pregnancy, even when one has the benefit of a loving partner and a support system.

The negative impact of stress during pregnancy: Risk of certain conditions such as preeclampsia (gestational hypertension or high blood pressure) increases due to stress.

There is also a higher likelihood of complications during labor and childbirth. The baby is also at higher risk of being born with a lower birth weight or preterm.

Some experts also attribute qualities of a child such as being hyperactive, temperamental, poorly behaved or having low self control to stress experienced by a mother during her pregnancy.

The reason why stress can impact a child negatively: Under stress, the human body produces the hormone cortisol, which can cross over the placental barrier to the baby.

This is not the most conducive environment for baby to develop. It is not yet fully understood how and why stress impacts the unborn child so negatively, but we do know that it is important to manage it effectively during pregnancy.

Recognizing signs of stress during pregnancy: Since there is so much at stake when you are pregnant it is important to look after yourself and watch out for these signs of depression, stress or anxiety:

• If you feel weepy or tearful frequently and repeatedly. An occasional crying jag could just be a surge of hormones, but consistently being weepy is not OK.
• Constantly feeling sad, inadequate or unhappy.
• Frequent irritability or short temperedness. Having little or no patience with other children in the house or feeling anger all the time.
• Indulging in risky behavior of any sort.

There is the general apprehension of underlying health problems coming to the fore with artificial conception, or that there are chances of the body rejecting the donated eggs and so, experts think that women should be made aware of and counseled about possible risks of the procedure.

A study conducted in the Netherlands between the years 1984 and 2008, it was found that there was threefold risk of a woman dying in childbirth if the method of conception used was IVF.

It was found that women who had IVF treatment had the rate of 42.5 deaths per hundred thousand pregnancies, whereas for natural conception this rate was only 12.1 per hundred thousand pregnancies.

The study also noted that there was a relation between the number of complications in a pregnancy and the age of the mother, the higher the age the more the chances of complications and in the past decade there has been a 50% rise in the number of women over 40 who have given birth.

Even when your pregnancy is normal it presents vast physiologic changes, but that should not be a cause of worry for you. Knowing the signals that confirm danger will tell you to seek early consultation and therefore prevent complications.

Some of them include any type of vaginal bleeding no matter how scanty the amount is it may lead to an abortion or may indicate a low lying placenta; sudden gush of clear fluid that is not your urine as this could be your bag of water; abdominal cramps that increases in frequency and intensity may mean you are already having contractions; severe headache and blurring of vision could be a sign of increased blood pressure; severe vomiting could lead to dehydration; fever and chills could be a sign of infection; swelling of the face and hands is dangerous because it can lead to eclampsia and changes of fetal movement; an increase may indicate fetal distress and decrease could mean a weakening fetus.

Knowing these signs can save your own life and your baby.

Now guidelines have been issued to try to reduce repeat C sections, so that women can more easily find hospitals and doctors who are pro VBACs (Vaginal birth after Caesarean).

It is thought that the earlier guidelines (which the new ones will replace) were actually responsible for the high prevalence of C sections today.

VBACs are safe to perform so long as the previous C section cut was low and horizontal, which is how most C sections are performed today. 60 to 80% of those women who try to deliver vaginally after a C section succeed in doing so.

The new guidelines state that a VBAC is reasonable even when there is the history of two previous C sections and those who are carrying twins. The guidelines also state that the risk of rupture (the main cause for concern in VBACs) is very low, even in the case of repeat C sections.

However, it is something that can be painful and inconvenient; it may even disturb sleep and interrupt times of rest. So it is important that leg cramping during pregnancy is dealt with for relief from pain and disturbance.

As every woman is different so every pregnancy is different, and while many may suffer excruciating cramping in the legs during pregnancy; others have none at all.

The cramping may be in the lower legs, or higher up in the thighs. The kind of cramping and the degree of pain experienced may also differ greatly.

So why does leg cramping during pregnancy happen? This is a common occurrence that happens as the body’s circulatory and metabolic systems undergo several changes.

In particular, the way that certain nutrients such as calcium and potassium are metabolized changes and this is thought to contribute to leg cramping during pregnancy.

Also insufficient hydration (when pregnant one should be drinking more water than before) could be one of the causes.

It could also be that the legs cramp from having to bear the extra pregnancy weight that a woman inevitably puts on during her pregnancy. Also the expanding uterus puts pressure on the blood vessels further causing discomfort.

What is Restless Legs Syndrome? While some women experience pain, others experience for the first time in their lives a condition called Restless Legs Syndrome when they are pregnant. This is characterized by a discomfort in the legs; an oddly squirmy and uncomfortable sensation that is not painful but difficult to fully describe.

It causes the one to keep moving the legs in order to get a little relief and feel somewhat more comfortable. RLS can be very disruptive; particularly a good night’s sleep may well be disturbed.

Should I worry? Usually leg cramping during pregnancy is nothing to worry about; however if there is swelling and tenderness in the legs, it is advisable to call a doctor immediately. This could be a blood clot which will require immediate attention.

Leg cramping during pregnancy could be alleviated by the following:

• A few simple stretching and ankle rotating exercises several times a day could help. Also be as active as possible in order that your circulation is in good shape. Unless there is a medical reason not to do so, take regular exercise in the form of walks etc.
• Long periods of standing or crossing one’s legs for long periods can also cause stress leading to cramps. Avoid that whenever possible.
• Eat bananas. They are a good source of potassium and are easy to digest and good for you.
• Consider taking a calcium supplement after consulting your doctor about it. A magnesium or vitamin supplement may also be indicated.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Use relaxation techniques like meditation.
• Take a warm bath to relax your muscles and soothe yourself so that you are able to get a better night’s sleep.
• Avoid getting over tired.
• Lay down on your left side, this improves circulation.

Cromar has twins – a boy and a girl who are due at different times, conceived a week apart because of her rare condition of having two uteruses.

Rather than a twin pregnancy, hers is called a Double Pregnancy. Less than 100 known cases of this phenomenon have been recorded.

Ultrasounds revealed that one of the babies is 5 weeks and a day old, whereas the other is 6 weeks and one day old.

Cromar and husband Joel already have 3 children under the age of 8 years and all have been singleton babies. Her rare condition had not impacted her earlier pregnancies.

The mother to be was reported as being excited but also nervous since the condition is not without its risks. In fact doctors have warned the expectant mom undergoing a double pregnancy that there are higher chances of pregnancy related problems such as low birth weight and/or preterm labor.

Here are some tips to help you remain healthy and stress free during pregnancy:

Manage time more effectively: If required cut down on work, and get help from family or friends if possible.

Prioritize your activities and make a schedule to follow; such organization can help you feel less overwhelmed and more in control, and therefore less stressed.

Pregnancy can be hard work; admit it to yourself when you feel overwhelmed.

Lead a healthy lifestyle: Eat a balanced nutritious diet that is healthy both for you and your unborn baby.

Exercise during pregnancy is known to help control stress and is known to have numerous other benefits as well, so make sure to take the time to exercise[pregnancy exercise] and remain active throughout pregnancy.

Stress management techniques: Meditation, yoga or biofeedback are an excellent way to help quell feelings of stress and anxiety. These can be started in pregnancy even if you have never done them before.

Not only are these techniques useful during pregnancy, yoga will keep you supple and flexible for the delivery, meditation will offer valuable skills for being calm and together at the time of labor and childbirth and may even help with pain relief.

Communication: Talk with your partner regularly or even a close friend lending an ear can help. Something as simple as talking about your worries, your feelings and your emotions at this time can help.

It can help by putting things in perspective and who knows there may be a simple solution that you simply weren’t able to see! Also if you have any other concerns or medical questions, be sure to ask your health care provider about those. It is possible you have been obsessing about something that isn’t an issue at all?

Rest: Pregnancy can really take it out of you. You can feel tired more easily and you may feel sleepy at odd times. That is your body telling you to take it easy.

Listen to your body and make sure you get enough sleep and good quality rest. If you are properly rested, you will be able to keep stress under control more easily.

Enjoy your pregnancy: Remember to enjoy and marvel at the transformations your body is undergoing. Take the time to understand and appreciate what a terrific job your body is doing, offering sustenance and succor to your unborn baby until it’s ready to take its first breath!

You may start with this simple exercise beginning on your 7th month until you deliver your child. Here’s how:

• Before you do the exercise apply warm compress to each breast for 10 to 15 minutes to prepare your nipples and prevent it from cracks. This will also minimize any discomfort you may feel.
• Find a comfortable position while doing the procedure, you can do it standing in front of the mirror so you can see or you could sit down.
• Expose one breast and then gently press from the areola (the dark skin around your nipple) using your thumb and index finger, then lightly push upward your nipple and hold it a few seconds. Do these for at least 5 times and then repeat every exercise.
• Do the same procedure on the other nipple until they are upright.

Preparing early will save you the discomfort of breastfeeding and the frustration for you and your baby if it becomes unsuccessful.