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Is Sushi Safe While Pregnant?

FAM, pregnancy By Guest April 22, 2011 Tags: is it safe, is sushi safe while pregnant, sushi, sushi and pregnancy 3 Comments

Is Sushi Safe While Pregnant?

Sorry, my harajuku girls who love their sashimi, but you gotta lay the chopsticks down for a few months until that bun’s done in the oven. (At least for some kinds of sushi, that is.)

Why isn’t sushi safe while pregnant?

According to OTIS (Organization for Teratology Information Services), raw fish can contain parasites and bacteria which a normal body can easily fight off but which a pregnant mom’s suppressed immune system might not be able to deal with. Also, some larger fish such as mackerel, salmon and tuna have high levels of mercury and other heavy metals, depending on where the fish was obtained (farmed fish have higher concentrations than wild-caught fish), which are very dangerous for a developing brain.

There could also be issues with cleanliness in the storing, preparation and service of raw foods. Although the chances of any of these issues troubling you in particular are extremely low, it’s always best to err on the side of caution when it’s not just your health on the line.

However, all is not lost, my little sushi addicts: a California roll is still perfectly safe, as are rolls made without fish or with cooked seafood. So enjoy what you can while you’re pregnant, and rest easy in the knowledge that you’re making the best decisions for you and your baby. Many meat teryaki rolls, tempura and veggie rolls are available. Swap the white for brown rice and you’re even better off. The seaweed wraps are filled with anti-oxidents and goodness and there are plenty of non-raw choices in most restaurants. So enjoy what you and and put the spicy tuna on your wishlist for the first post-birth feast!

Can I Use Nail Polish While I am Pregnant?

FAM, pregnancy By Guest April 22, 2011 Tags: is it safe, nail polish, nail polish during pregnancy, pregnancy, using nail polish when pregnant 1 Comment

Your first pregnancy is always full of questions and anxiety: what’s normal? What can and can’t I do? It’s nice to have some concrete facts to go by. This one’s pretty easy: The answer to ‘can I use nail polish while I am pregnant‘ is yes.

According to the Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS, they study and release information on substances and practices that could cause birth defects or harm developing babies), it’s fine, just be wise. Heck, go all out and get yourself a mani-pedi, because once you hit the middle of the second trimester you’ll be lucky to be able to see your feet, much less be able to contort yourself around the curve of your baby belly to paint your own toenails, right? At least then you’ll know they’re presentable without having to use a handheld mirror to check!

The Triple Screen During Pregnancy

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery April 10, 2011 Tags: blood test, multiples, test, trimester, triple marker, triple screen No Comments

The triple screen during pregnancy is a blood test carried out during the second trimester (weeks 15 – 20) to signal if there is a risk of chromosomal abnormalities. It is important to remember that the blood alone is not the only indicator used. A woman’s age, ethnicity and other factors are combined with the bloodwork in order to estimate the chances that the fetus may have an abnormality. These tests DO NOT diagnose a problem; they only indicate that further testing should be done.

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Intravenous fentanyl for pain relief during labour

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery February 26, 2011 Tags: intravenous fentanyl, labour, labour pain, pain relievers in labour, painkiller No Comments

What is Intravenous Fentanyl?

It is a drug that is a powerful pain reliever (narcotic). It may be offered to you to help you cope better with the pain of labour. Some women say it takes the edge off the pain and helps them to cope better. It will take the most of the pain away but not all of it. We’ve gathered some Information about intravenous fentanyl so that you can make your labour decisions.

Doses that would take away all your labour pain would make you very sleepy and would decrease your ability to breathe. This could be dangerous for you.

How is Fentanyl given?

It is given to you in a way so it is safe for you and your baby.

First your nurse puts a tube in your hand or arm called an intravenous or IV.
Your nurse, doctor, or midwife gives you the drug through this tube or you can give yourself this drug through the IV by using a pump that you control. It is called a patient-controlled pump. If you are using a pump you cannot give yourself too much of the drug because the pump is set to only allow safe doses.

Side effects of Fentanyl

You may become sleepy
Your breathing may slow down. Some women need to be given some oxygen and be watched closely if this happens.
You may feel sick to your stomach. This happens less often with Fentanyl than with other narcotics.
Fentanyl crosses the placenta and goes to your baby. As a result, your baby may be sleepy and not breathe well at birth. If this happens your baby may be given a drug that helps called Naloxone. Naloxone is given to your baby by an injection into the muscle of her or his leg. Sometimes, if you have needed a large dose of fentanyl, your baby’s breathing may have to be watched closely for several hours.
Your baby may have some trouble starting breastfeeding because she/he is sleepy and you may need more help to get your baby to breastfeed. Your nurse and/or lactation consultant will be able to help you get breastfeeding started.

What does is it not do?

Fentanyl will not take all your pain away.
Fentanyl does not give pain relief so your doctor/midwife can help your baby be born by the use of forceps or vacuum.
If your labour is very long it may not be as helpful later on as you may need a different form of pain relief.

BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre
September 2006, BCW#766

Evening Maternity Wear

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery November 27, 2010 Tags: Evening gowns, Evening Maternity Wear, Holiday party fashion, maternity clothes, maternity wedding, pregnancy fashion, pregnancy fashion advice, spanx maternity 11 Comments

Attend your holiday gatherings with confidence if you follow our advice on Maternity Evening Wear. Focus on fabric, fit and colour to get a look that flatters and flaunts your pregnant belly.

What to Expect from Your Dog When You’re Expecting

FAM, LIVE, nourish, pregnancy By Jill Amery September 9, 2010 Tags: animal, dog, new baby 2 Comments

Baby-proofing and picking out nursery colours aren’t the only things expecting parents must do to prepare for a new baby in the home. Training and preparing the family dog for the baby’s arrival is essential. To help young families and families-to-be, Bark Busters, the world’s largest dog training company, has developed a cheat sheet for parents. Just like so many other aspects of parenting, the more you prepare beforehand, the easier it will be. So this what to expect from Your dog when you’re expecting

Inspiration for Labour

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery April 25, 2010 Tags: delivery, labour, natural birth, slow birth No Comments

Wide open

Your face is soft

Your shoulders are heavy

You are safe

Your baby is safe

This is your power

You are strong

Drinking Alcohol During Conception

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery March 17, 2010 Tags: alcohol conception, alcohol pregnancy, alcohol sex, drinking during conception, drinking during sex 1 Comment

Many a baby has been conceived during a fun night of drinking alcohol-infused margaritas that may not be remembered by the parties involved. Will the alcohol in your bloodstream during intercourse ultimately harm the pregnancy? Experts suggest that alcohol from the night of sexual relations is more prone to adversely affect the chances of conception rather than affect the health of the egg or sperm. Because actual conception occurs between 1 and 4 days following intercourse, the alcohol from the night you had intercourse will have left the bloodstream by the time sperm and egg meet.

“While there is plenty of evidence that a mom’s drinking during pregnancy can cause problems for the baby, there is no evidence that the father’s drinking at the time of conception poses any direct risk. Even if you were drinking just on the night of conception, problems would be unlikely.” Dr. Marjorie Greenfield www.drspock.com

Experts agree that worrying about alcohol consumption prior to learning of a pregnancy is not productive, and attention should be focused on ensuring a healthy pregnancy now and in the future.

Please also see our articles on breastfeeding and alcohol, prenatal vitamins and conception preparation.

Reasons Your Period Might Be Late

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery March 16, 2010 Tags: early pregnancy, late, late period, pregnancy scare, pregnancy sign, pregnant missed period, skipped period, spotting, symptom, very early pregnancy 13 Comments

We’re quite sure that every woman who has ever had sex has wondered why her period may be late. The most obvious reason, of course, is that you are pregnant. But before you start shopping for strollers, remember that a woman’s body is affected by many things. A few of these (in no particular order) are included below. Have you had regular cycles or are you worried every month? Tell us your stories in the comments section – sharing helps all of our readers. And here our our top reasons your period might be late.