LilSugar

Baby Bump: Six Thanksgiving Foods to Avoid While Pregnant

babysugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:30:52 -0800

Thanksgiving may be an expectant mama's dream, but before you take advantage of eating for two this turkey day, make sure the food you're enjoying is safe for your growing belly. If you've got a bun (and a turkey) in the oven go back for seconds (and thirds) after you check out these six festive foods to watch out for and avoid.

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Did You Have a Gut Feeling About Your Baby's Sex?

LilSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:00:16 -0800

Expectant women are full of anticipation before meeting their wee ones. One of the most suspenseful moments is when the gender is revealed - be it in the delivery room or the ultrasound. Before that moment arrives, some women believe they already know if their child is going to be a boy or girl. Be it mother's intuition, a gut feeling, or old wives' tales about gender, some mamas-to-be have a sixth sense when it comes to their babe. Do tell, did you guess your baby's gender correctly before you saw the evidence?

Which Practice Helped You Get Pregnant?

LilSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:00:14 -0800

A woman wishing to get pregnant often expects it to happen as soon as she starts trying, but that's not always how it happens. To boost fertility, hopeful parents-to-be may turn to various types of medicine. Alternative and traditional medical practices each have their pros and cons, and it's no doubt that both have worked wonders for many a mama looking to put a bun in her oven. Which method, if any, did you choose to aid in getting pregnant?

Pregnancy Myths Uncovered

LilSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:04 -0800

Navigating through all the things moms-to-be can and can't do while expecting is one of the toughest parts of being pregnant. Since facts often get mixed with fiction, we're clearing the air on a few of the myths that may be keeping mama up at night.

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Babies Having Babies in Bulgaria

babysugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:38 -0800

Sadly teenage pregnancies have become all too common, even trendy in some spots. While movies like Juno make it seem like an American phenomenon, other parts of the world have seen babies having babies for ages. In many countries, the age of consent is as low as 13 or 14. Though it varies by state in America, the average age of consent is 16. So when we hear about an 11-year-old having a daughter, it still shocks the system. When I think of 11-year-olds, I imagine budding girls starting middle school and having their first crush. I think training bras and scrawny legs, not breastfeeding an infant. But that's exactly where one young lady finds herself.

An 11-year-old Bulgarian girl had a daughter in the middle of her wedding festivities. Yes, wedding festivities. The two wanted to tie the knot before the baby's arrival. Apparently it was love at first sight when her 19-year-old fiancé rescued her from a bullying group of lads. The two consecrated their love for each other within a week and unknown to him, she lied about her age so not to scare him off. She immediately became pregnant with his child. Now the two teens are parents to Violeta. The new mommy said, ""I'm not going to play with toys anymore - I have a new toy now."

10 Foods to Curb Pregnancy Cravings

LilSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:00:13 -0700

Move over pickles and ice cream, the pregnancy craving cops are onto you. The foods women crave may evolve as they make their way through their expectant days, but at the heart of it all are nutrients that the mama-to-be and her baby need as they continue on their journey. Keeping a fridge well-stocked with foods that fulfill these cravings will help eliminate the need for late night grocery runs and odd mixtures on mommy's plate.

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Mama's Hiding Her Pregnancy For a Raise

babysugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:00:04 -0700

Pregnancy is to be celebrated but there are rare occasions when a woman tries to hide her expectant status to reap the benefits of a vacant womb, especially in the workplace. In the "Never Judge a Lady by Her Lover" episode of Desperate Housewives, Carlos gives Lynette a promotion that she initially tries to reject knowing she has two babies in her belly. When the boss man mentions the salary increase, she quickly takes the offer and keeps her mouth shut about her impending arrivals. As he walks out the door, he admits he is giving the job to Lynette because the other candidate appears to be pregnant, making Lynette the more attractive option of the two.

Did you try to hide your pregnancy for job reasons?

Video courtesy of ABC

Did You Pig Out in the Final Days of Pregnancy?

LilSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:00:01 -0700

Can the final days of pregnancy be compared to a scene from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory where Augustus Gloop is seen gobbling up a buffet of wonderful foods? Maybe. For women who watch their weight throughout their nine months, the final days of pregnancy can be an opportunity to indulge in the tasty treats they deny themselves throughout the rest of the prenatal period.

A friend recently told me about her week of gluttony following her final doctor's appointment. Not a fan of her weekly weigh-ins at her obstetrician's office, my friend left her 39-week appointment pleased with her overall weight gain. Given baby's breech presentation, the doctor had scheduled a c-section for the following week. Knowing that she would not have to get on the scale before her surgery, my friend spent her final days of pregnancy gobbling up the hamburgers, ice cream sundaes and pizza slices she had forgone over the past nine months. Though she said she really wasn't hungry due to the little space left in her stomach, she was enjoying the tastes of her favorite foods before she would have to focus on losing her baby weight.

My friend's week of indulgence got me thinking: did you treat yourself to some special foods before giving birth?

Want to talk pregnancy with other expectant mamas? Join the LilSugar Community!

How Did You Choose Your Doctor?

LilSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:04 -0700

A, B, C. . . If only selecting a doctor was as easy as teaching your child the alphabet or thumbing through the yellow pages! Choosing an OB/GYN can be compared to studying for a final exam. There are histories to check, references to get and insurance companies that must be consulted. Some receive referrals from friends and family, while others select one simply based on proximity to their home or office. Many women select their doctor before children are ever even a thought in the back of their head, and then want to reevaluate their decision after they become pregnant. It's a giant headache.

According to a new JAMA study, mamas-to-be may want to spend some time researching where her doctor did his or her residency before signing on as a patient. Research into 4.9 million baby deliveries in Florida and New York found that those delivered by doctors trained in the top 20 percent of obstetric residential programs had less complications than those trained elsewhere.

How did you choose your doctor?

Do You Know the Old Wives' Tales About Gender?

LilSugar — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:00:56 -0700

Expecting mamas love to try and determine the sex of their unborn child using old wives' tales, but how well do you know the legends? Take the quiz to find out.

Question 1 of 7

At your last OB appointment, your baby's heart rate was 150 BPM. According to the wives' tale, you'll be having a . . .