Therapeutic massage has been around for hundreds of years, and can be used to relieve muscle tension, reduce stress, and to improve your overall health.  In the past, health professionals were somewhat ambivalent in accepting the benefits of therapeutic massage for pregnant women.  However, modern research is showing that this type of massage can be an important part of a woman’s prenatal care. (more…)

What image first comes to mind when you hear the words maternity clothes?  For many women, the image isn’t a pretty one – whether it’s the ever-popular muumuu or a tent-like maternity blouse.  However, nowadays, nothing could be further from the truth.  Today, many high fashion stores carry exclusive lines of maternity clothes.  Can’t afford designer prices?  Don’t worry!  Department stores and consignment shops aren’t far behind in providing fashionable, yet affordable, maternity clothing.

In fact, shopping for maternity clothes can be a lot of fun.  The thought of your growing tummy may make you very happy.  Others may not feel this way.  But when is spending money on clothes not fun?  So even if it isn’t your idea of a great Saturday morning, why not try to make the best of it? (more…)

Taking prenatal vitamins is an important step for pregnant women to take to protect their health and the health of their babies.  These multivitamins are specially formulated to provide additional nutrients to make up for any nutritional deficiencies that may occur in the mother’s diet.  And although there are many vitamins and minerals found in prenatal vitamins, it is the iron, folic acid, and calcium that are most important.

Folic acid reduces the risk of having a baby born with serious birth defect that affects the brain and spinal cord.  For example, spina bifida is the most common birth defect caused by a lack of folic acid.  Spina bifida babies are born without a closed spine – the nerves of the spinal column are damaged, and the child may have varying degrees of mental retardation, paralysis, and incontinence.

These specific types of birth defects, called neural tube defects, typically occur within the first twenty-eight days after conception, before most women are even aware they are pregnant.  For this reason, the United States Public Health Service recommends all women get 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, allowing the right amount of folic acid to be present in the body before the baby is even conceived.  Folic acid is naturally found in citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, beans, and nuts.  In addition, you can also find breakfast cereals and other products that have been enriched with the daily recommended allowance of folic acid. (more…)