Tips for Mothers 2……..when the line turns pink

I hope we all had a great week. Hmmmm………… the year is gradually or should I say fastly coming to an end. For me this year has been quite eventful, I’ve seen lots of babies- twins inclusive, (of course I will start with my babies), pregnancies, new friends(my readers inclusive) and a whole lot of success stories (this blog inclusive) and a bit of sad stories (sharing one on my next post).

Anyways, I sincerely believe someone out there- whether preggy, soon to be preggy or not getting preggy anytime soon, is gaining something from these posts. Cos I believe no knowledge is wasted, you might be able to encourage or share something with your new preggy friend who seems to be at her wits end.

Having said that, let’s continue with our Tips for mothers…………when the line turns pink (I really wish I can do a survey and get responses from mothers on their first thoughts immediately they knew they were pregnant). For me, I guess my first
thought will be “Thank you Jesus, finally I get to experience the practical”.

Okies, we stopped at Prenatal Vitamins- What to Look Out for when Choosing your Pre-Natal Vitamins.

To be sincere, at first with several of my cases, I advised them to use a particular brand of Prenatal Vitamins. My first suggestion is usually Pregnacare, but now I really do understand that it is best you choose your Prenatal vitamins based on your health history, age and your eating habits.

What to Look for in Prenatal Vitamins – Look for a prenatal vitamin that includes:
* 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid.
* 400 IU of vitamin D.
* 200 to 300 milligrams (mg) of calcium.
* 70 mg of vitamin C.
* 3 mg of thiamine.
* 2 mg of riboflavin.
* 20 mg of niacin.
* 6 mcg of vitamin B12.
* 10 mg of vitamin E.
* 15 mg of zinc.
* 17 mg of iron.

You should take your prenatal vitamins for the full term. This is highly advised because it ensures that you are giving your baby all the vitamins and nutrients he or she needs right up to birth – which is more likely to be a healthy and natural birth if your nutrition has been solid with no gaps. Some people experience nausea and constipation from taking prenatal vitamins. If your vitamins cause nausea, it is advisable you do any of the following:

* Take your vitamins at night, when you are less susceptible to nausea.
* Take them with a snack and/or drink
* Chew gum for a few minutes after taking them. For constipation caused by an increased intake in iron, you can do any or all of the following to relieve the problem:
* Drink plenty of water (you should be doing this anyway as water is very essential when pregnant and lack of it can affect your amniotic fluid level).
* Include plenty of fiber in your diet- I sincerely advise lots of Cereals especially in the first Trimester.
* Stay active and mobile throughout the day – as long as your doctor says it is okay.

The Vitamins earlier mentioned have the following roles to play in the developmental process of your baby(ies)
·         FOLIC ACID is one of the biggies. It reduces the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida. Many doctors recommend every woman of childbearing age get at least 400 mcg each day. To keep up with your increased blood volume, you’ll also need more iron (at least 27 mg each day) during pregnancy.
·         CALCIUM: Extra calcium will help keep you bones strong while your body is in the process of
creating new ones for baby. If you’re not taking in enough from milk, yogurt, or other calcium-rich foods — you need 1,000 mg (milligrams) a day — please make sure it’s in your vitamins.
·          OMEGA-3 FATTY ACID: This contains supplement
like DHA, which helps baby’s brain, nerve and eye tissue development. On the flip side, please watch your intake of vitamins A,D,E and K — these can be toxic in large amounts.
·         IRON is another important mineral, and most prenatal vitamins will have 30 to 40 mg. If you’re anaemic or you are a carrier of haemoglobin ‘C’ , watch out for your PCV (Packed Cell Volume) level- which is an indication of your blood count -i.e. Red and White blood cell.Talk to your doctor about whether you’ll need more. On the flip side, I advise squeezing juice out of  Pumpkin leaves, popularly referred to as ‘Ugwu’. You need to do this at least once in a month.
·         IODINE: This is to reduce the risk on your baby’s thyroid and brain development. This is the time to ensure you are buying iodized salt.

While studying, I read somewhere that if you are TTC (trying to conceive), take a prenatal now, and you’ll experience fewer episodes of nausea and vomiting during your first trimester of pregnancy and guess what, someone actually confirmed this.

So why not shop for the best Prenatal Vitamins,whether you are preggy or not, as prenatal vitamins- such as zinc and Manganese, actually help in ‘upping’ our fertility level.

Please ensure you choose the best Prenatal Vitamins that will fortify your body with important nutrients needed to conceive your baby-to-be and ensure a healthy pregnancy.
However, for everything that has to do with your health, and the health of your baby, you should always seek advice from your doctor before taking any of my advice.
Thank you.

JUST SO YOU KNOW………….I’M A ‘PREGGY LOVER’

So I was at this meeting and it was time to introduce ourselves- not just the usual introductions, we were asked to mention what interested us. Instantly, I knew what my response would be, I didn’t even have to think about it. And voila… it was my turn and I blurted out- ‘pregnancy and babies’ and immediately felt twenty-something  pairs of eyes staring at me with the ‘like seriously?’ look. Then the torrents of questions started- ‘Is it having the pregnancy?’, ‘Explain what you mean….’, ‘Are you really really serious?’

I almost caved under all the questions and stares. But I stood my ground and gave them the best explanation I could- “Well, that’s my ministry or calling (whatever it is that you call it). I love the process of bringing forth, experiencing and seeing a new life unfold as the days and weeks goes by. I see it as a very spiritual and chanced opportunity that need not be taken for granted. I enjoy it no matter the seemingly ‘uphills’ (which I believe are no uphills as long as God gives us grace).

I love pregnancy and babies so much that on my extremely happy and fulfilling days, you can be sure to find an element of these- babysitting, hearing the good news of someone getting pregnant, being chosen to be a birth partner or the news of the birth of a child.

Pregnancy, babies and all that comes with it is my passion, my life and what defines me.

Join me on this ride as I bring you tips, success stories and all that goes on in my medula oblongata about babies and pregnancy.

In between, I am still single and searching and can’t wait to be a biological mother, though I’d say maybe I’m a mother already considering the number of babies God has granted me the grace to be a part of their journey from the moment the ‘line turned pink’ till their first steps.

Thank God there is a process involved before one can be pregnant and since I am not ready to be the Mary of my time, I will wait till my time comes, which definitely is soon BHG!

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