Review: Gaiam Prenatal Yoga DVD

Prenatal yoga was my exercise of choice in my last two pregnancies. I found that when I took the time out of my day to practice yoga, I felt better. I experienced fewer aches and pains, had more energy and felt more relaxed and peaceful. There is evidence to suggest I am not alone. Yoga offers several benefits to pregnant women. The stretching and breathing is helpful for many discomforts of pregnancy and helps control weight gain. Practicing yoga in pregnancy also helps tone and strengthen the muscles for birth and increases flexibility. If possible, or if you have never … Continue reading →

Body Image and Weight Gain in Pregnancy

A study at Temple University has resulted in some interesting information about body image and excessive weight gain in pregnancy. As most women know, some of us have an accurate body image, but others view themselves as either thinner or heavier than their actual body weight. According to researchers, this distorted body image can result in a greater risk of gaining too much weight in pregnancy. Over 1500 women who were enrolled in a program called Project Viva were participants in the study. The women were classified as normal weight, overweight or obese. These groups were subdivided into women with … Continue reading →

Benefits of Pilates in Pregnancy

Pilates is a good choice for prenatal exercise. Pilates strengthens the muscles of the abdomen, pelvis and back. This can help prepare your body for labor. In addition, you may find you feel better and experience fewer discomforts after starting a Pilates class. Pilates offers several benefits and is generally safe for a healthy pregnant woman. However, each pregnancy is different and presents its own unique challenges. For this reason, you should speak to your doctor before beginning any new exercise program, and this includes Pilates. In some cases, doctors may recommend waiting until after the first trimester, if you … Continue reading →

Prenatal Fitness: Water Aerobics

Regular exercise during pregnancy has many benefits. Women who exercise throughout their pregnancies tend to have fewer complications, find relief from many of the discomforts of pregnancy, gain less weight during pregnancy and lose the weight easier after the baby is born. Before starting any exercise program, check with your health care provider. When choosing a method of exercise, low impact is best. For example, a brisk walk outside or on a treadmill is better than running. Swimming is a low impact form of exercise that works the muscles. Water aerobics takes the benefits of swimming one step further. If … Continue reading →

Yoga Poses to Avoid

There are many benefits to prenatal yoga. Regular practice of yoga tones the muscles and prepares the body for labor and delivery. In addition, many women find they get an emotional boost from yoga, which is very beneficial. Although yoga is safe and effective for pregnancy, there are some poses which should be avoided. Positions requiring you to lie on your stomach are not safe for pregnancy. These include poses such as cobra, are not safe particularly as the belly grows. As the baby grows, you will need to avoid poses which require you to lie on your back for … Continue reading →

Is it Safe to Ski During Pregnancy?

This is the time of year that winter sports lovers long for. If you are pregnant, you may be wondering if it is safe to ski this year. The answer to this isn’t always clear. Opinions vary on skiing during pregnancy, even among obstetricians. Before participating in any strenuous activity, including skiing, talk to your health care provider. Advice from doctors and midwives is mixed on the subject of skiing for pregnant patients. Some will tell you to avoid skiing due to the risk of falling and being injured. Others will base their advice on the level of proficiency of … Continue reading →

When People Touch Your Belly

The strangest thing happens once you start showing. People seem unable to resist touching a pregnant belly. At no other point in life will strangers approach you and try to touch your stomach. For some reason, some have no problem invading the personal space of a stranger to touch her stomach. If you are lucky, the stranger will ask before touching. Even this can be awkward. How do you say “no” in a polite way? Personally, I wouldn’t worry too much about politeness. After all, the question isn’t very polite, is it? Well, it could be worse. Some don’t even … Continue reading →

Natural Acne Remedies for Pregnant Women

For some women, acne becomes a problem or gets worse during pregnancy. Products to treat acne can cause ingredients that are unsafe for the baby. Even if the ingredients are safe, they tend to have harsh chemicals. These can irritate the skin, which can become more sensitive during pregnancy. Natural skin care products are the best option for expectant mommies. You can find natural or organic lines in health food stores or on the internet. These products tend to be more expensive than many over the counter skin care remedies. Some women don’t mind the added expense, but others may … Continue reading →

How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are an unfortunate, but normal part of having a baby. Some women are more prone to the marks than others. The elasticity of the skin, family history and ethnicity all play a role in whether or not you will have stretch marks. There are some creams on the market that claim to fade stretch marks. These contain ingredients such as vitamin E, cocoa butter and collagen. The results are questionable. A few may fade them a bit, but it is unlikely that any cream will completely eliminate stretch marks. These creams are most useful for preventing stretch marks. … Continue reading →

What Causes Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are a common side affect of pregnancy. Women spend a great deal of time worrying about these marks. Products are sold that claim the ability to prevent or fade the unsightly stretch marks. Before attempting to treat or prevent stretch marks, its important to understand how they are formed. Basically, stretch marks work like they sound. They are caused by tears in the tissues of the skin. These small tears occur in the sub dermal layers of the skin. The connective tissues are usually affected by the stretching of the skin during pregnancy. Stretch marks begin in the … Continue reading →