Early Motherhood

Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, often called gestational hypertension, affects a small number of expectant mothers. The condition differs from chronic hypertension in that it is occurs only during pregnancy and is usually caused by it. In most cases it’s not dangerous but around 1 in 4 women with gestational hypertension go on to develop a much more dangerous condition called preeclampsia. So it’s very important to deal with gestational hypertension, though options are limited when powerful medications are the last thing an expectant mother wants!

Many people believe that they only get acne when they are growing up, as teenagers, but you may be surprised to know that it can also happen during pregnancy. Most of your pregnancy symptoms are a result of an increase in your hormones (similar to going through puberty).

As your hormone levels rise, your production of oil in your pores increase, leading to oily skin. Oily skin leads to acne acne, spots, pimples or whatever you want to call them. You may find that those pimples are also on your body, not just your face.

There are so many things to consider when selecting the perfect name for your child. Many parents don’t have a clue about where to begin and feel completely overwhelmed. The best place to start is with a list. Both parents should take a few minutes and jot down the first ten baby names that come to mind that they would deem suitable for the new baby. It’s not as difficult as it sounds - it’s actually surprising, how many unique and quality names have been stored in your memory, just as you go through your every day life. Make sure that you list names for both boys and girls, unless you already know the sex of your baby.

As a new parent (especially a young mother), it can be difficult to separate the real and useful advice from the useless or unimportant advice. You are worried that maybe you really don’t know what you’re doing and it is easy for someone else to convince you that you are putting your child in danger or are a terrible parent for doing something differently.

The fact of the matter is that most parents have very good instincts. Sure, you might change a diaper differently than your mother-in-law, but your baby isn’t going to end up in the hospital because of it! Trust yourself. You know what is best for your baby, not other people.

Expecting mothers really should take a quality prenatal vitamin. A doctor will often prescribe a prenatal vitamin to a pregnant patient, but some assert that the vitamins are beneficial for women who are planning to conceive as well. Using the supplements, such as a prenatal vitamin, before getting pregnant helps prevent certain birth defects. Some mothers choose to continue taking prenatal vitamins throughout their pregnancies and while they are breastfeeding.