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Home Birth More and more women are turning to home birth as well. Some home births are attended by midwives, while others are just the laboring mother and her birth partner. The woman is, theoretically, in complete control during a home birth.She is free to move about in the comfort of her surroundings. Such an environment is beneficial for many women; because her surroundings are so familiar, there is little to distract her from the work of labor. https://youtu.be/Be3ISaDTfI4 At the same time, there are no medical interventions available for laboring women at home. Women can certainly reduce their discomfort during labor by spending time in the tub or shower, having their partner use massage to manage tension, or by simply practicing their own laboring techniques.If you are experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, home birth is probably not for you. In the end, however, it is the job of the mother and her partner to decide where to give birth. Pregnancy is a special time for women. Despite the discomforts and challenges you may be feeling, there is no denying the magic of the little person developing inside you. During pregnancy, it is sometimes easy to focus your attention on your changing body and the baby’s development and forget about how and where the baby will be born. Though most mothers still give birth in a hospital setting, more and more women are electing to have their babies in birth centers or even in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. The decision of where to have your baby is a highly personal one, and it is a good idea to explore your options. Even if you decide on the traditional hospital setting, understanding the benefits and drawbacks of each birth environment will ensure that you’ve made the best decision for you and your family. Having a baby at a hospital is clearly the most common birth setting for most women. The benefits of a hospital birth are many. Most women see OB/GYNs for their prenatal, birth, and postpartum care, and most OB/GYNs have privileges in hospitals rather than in birth centers. There Are Two Major Types of Hospitals A teaching hospital has the most up-to-date equipment and part of their mission is to teach the next generation of doctors and nurses about medical care. In a teaching hospital, the birthing mother may be asked if interns and other medical students can watch or assist with the labor and birth. Smaller community hospitals are more likely to have a more intimate feel. They are less likely to have medical students helping care for patients. All hospitals provide opportunities for pain management for laboring women, from local anesthetics to epidural and spinal blocks. What a hospital lacks in comfort and privacy it makes up for in access to emergency care. Women with complicated pregnancies or babies with special needs will benefit from neonatal care found in hospitals. This Article was brought to you in collaboration with Bellefit, the makers of the best postpartum girdles Founded in 2008 Bellefit® is the most mom-trusted and awarded brand of postpartum girdles & corsets for recovery after c-section or natural childbirth. Bellefit® girdles come in five designs made using proprietary compression fabrics. Their unique design features triple-layered reinforced front and back support panels. As a woman-owned company, Bellefit® is no stranger to the challenges new moms face during and after pregnancy. The company helps women feel supported and confident in their changing bodies. Bellefit Girdles

Aside from morning sickness and your occasional heartburn, being pregnant is a pretty blissful time for most women...until you catch a dreaded cold! Taking medicine can be harmful during the first trimester and breathing with a big belly pushing up against your lungs is hard enough without having to deal with a stuffy nose, coughing and sneezing. Here are some tips for preventing and treating a cold during pregnancy. 1. Eat Healthy Having a healthy diet during your pregnancy is a great idea in general. The foods we consume have everything to do with how our bodies function. So even though it's ok to indulge in your occasional cravings, make healthy food choices to maintain your immune system strong. 2. Wash Your Hands It may seem a little paranoid, but germs are everywhere! Although our bodies are built to reject most of the common germs out there, there’s always a chance for something gross to makes its way through and get you sick. Washing your hands with antibacterial soap often is a great preventative measure to stay healthy. You can also keep antibacterial hand wipes in your purse to avoid having to go to the bathroom even more than you already do. 3. Avoid Crowded Places Ok, so this doesn't mean you should become a germaphobic hermit, it just means that you should consider keeping your interaction with really large crowds at bay. Lots of people together in one place make the environment less controlled and in turn increase your odds of catching some yucky cold. 4. Take Prenatal Vitamins Yes, prenatal vitamins are very important when you're pregnant. Not only do they help your developing fetus grow strong, but they also help mom stay healthy. These vitamins have come a long way too. No longer do you have to take gigantic and stinky prenatal vitamins. Today's vitamins are smaller and often have no scent or a subtle vanilla coating to make taking them way easier than it used to be. 5. Exercise Exercising during your pregnancy can be a great way to stay healthy. You will feel great, your body will remain active and your strength will continue to build as your belly grows heavier. Of course, you should always consult with your Doctor about your exercise routines since every woman is unique. If You Catch a Cold It’s true that our efforts to avoid a cold can fail, not because we aren’t doing everything right, but simply because at times the odds are not in our favor. If you do happen to get on the cold train, here are some great tips to help you recover faster. 1. Avoid Dairy Dairy products such as yogurt, milk and cheese are known to produce more mucus in the human body and when you have a cold the last thing you need is more mucus. Keep dairy at bay to make your recovery more comfortable. 2. Get a Facial Steamer A face steamer can do wonders in loosening up the mucus that is clogging up your nose and throat. A little steam will provide much-needed relief and you will be breathing again in no time. An alternative to the store bought steamer is to fill a bowl with hot water and hover your face over the steaming bowl with a towel covering your head to create a "tent" effect. 3. Lots of Rest Being that you're pregnant, you probably keep hearing people telling you to rest up, but lots of rest when you have a cold is also a great remedy. Sleeping will allow you to get much-needed rest and give your immune system a great boost to battle that pesky cold. 4. Steamy Baths or Showers A nice, warm, steamy shower or bath will also help you relax, loosen up the mucus that is clogging your sinuses and soothe your body. Take some time to add a little aromatherapy to freshen up before facing the day. 5. Face Massage As odd as this sounds, gently massaging your face around the sinuses can provide extraordinary relief when you have a cold. Simply use your fingertips with a light tapping motion around your nose, eyebrows and cheek bones. Staying healthy and preventing a cold during pregnancy doesn't have to be a challenge. Just keep these handy tips in mind and do your best to maintain your immune system strong. Always consult with your Doctor about matters concerning your health and the health of your baby.