Emotional reactions to a positive pregnancy test tend to be dramatic: whether you’re feeling excited, terrified, shocked (or a combination of all of the above), lukewarm reactions are generally not a thing in this situation.
So take a deep breath. Then pick up the phone to schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Breastfeeding is a wonderful, healthy, beautiful thing...but don't ever let anyone tell you it's easy. When I had my first baby, even though I had several years of medical training behind me, I was shocked to discover that breastfeeding didn't come perfectly naturally. I actually had to work at it. I had to think about it. A lot. I had to read, experiment, and eventually see a lactation consultant who helped me figure the whole thing out.
For many of us, facing nine long months without our favourite indulgence is enough to make a girl break down and cry. (And that’s independent of all the hormonal changes of pregnancy that are making you...well, break down and cry.)
It’s supposed to be completely natural. It’s supposed to just…happen. At least, that’s what you might have always thought. But for many of us, getting pregnant is anything but easy. And it’s anything but stress free.
Trying to conceive can be an incredibly anxiety-provoking time for many couples. And it’s a vicious cycle, because stress itself may be a hindrance to achieving that sought-after pregnancy.
So Kate Middleton is pregnant. (YAY!) But she’s also in hospital. (BOO!) She was admitted with hyperemesis gravidarum. (Um...say what?)
Hyperemesis is, essentially, a severe form of something many of us experience during pregnancy: morning sickness. But this is not a case of the Duchess being a bit of a princess (oh, poor me, I’m feeling a little sick...), because hyperemesis is a serious thing.
Is it safe to colour your hair when you’re pregnant? Many, many women wonder about this. And, as with so many things, there is a lot of rumour out there, a lot of urban myth, and a lot of confusion. Is hair dye harmful to your developing baby? How much gets absorbed? Are there safe alternatives?
During pregnancy, we take good care of our bodies: we choose healthy foods, we take our vitamins, we banish harmful substances like cigarette smoke and alcohol.
But what about mental health? If you’re pregnant—is stress something you need to be concerned about?
