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What is sciatica nerve pain? Sciatica nerve pain is pain from the lower back through your hips and buttocks to your lower leg. It’s an irritation of your sciatic nerve which is located around your lower spine and ends in the thigh. The sciatica nerve is the largest in your body. It makes you feel sensations like pressure, heat, and pain in your lower back, legs, and feet. Its primary function is to send signals to and from your thigh muscle. You can experience sciatica pain on the outside of your leg in the back or front. It usually affects only one side of the body but in some cases can affect both. Patients often describe it as shooting pain which can range from mild to severe. What can cause it? Sciatica related to age is the most common form. Herniated disk and bone spurs can occur with increasing age. Obesity can also affect the sciatica nerve due to the increased weight and pressure on the nerve. During pregnancy, especially in the later stages, the weight of the baby can put pressure on the sciatic nerve which can cause sciatica pain. It can also be caused by Trauma, Tumor, Spinal Stenosis, Piriformis Syndrome, or Spondylolisthesis. Risk factors that can contribute to getting sciatica are degenerative arthritis to the lumbar spine. Symptoms and What to Look For. Common symptoms of sciatica include: Pain in one side of your leg or buttocks Lower back pain Numbness or tingling in your legs Sudden shooting pain from your lower back to your leg Sitting down causes pain Prevention Exercise regularly and focus especially on stretches. Keep your core strong to assure proper posture and good alignment. Posture is important. It is recommended to choose a good seat with proper support. When you lift something heavy, keep your back straight and don’t twist and lift at the same time. Ways to relieve sciatica pain: Usual treatments include massages, physical therapy, or chiropractic care. However, self-treatment stretches are extremely helpful for pregnant women experiencing sciatica. 1. Child’s pose This is a very relaxing stretch also used in yoga classes. Stretches the spine. Relieves neck and lower back pain and stretches hips thighs and ankles. Kneel on a mat or any soft surface. Move your knees out and your feet together until your big toes touch. Bend down and reach your arms above your head. The forehead should touch the mat. Relax your arms. Repeat multiple times a day. 2. Hip flexor stretch Also, a yoga pose that stretches your hip flexor and turns on your glutes. Start on your hands and knees. Move one leg in between your hands. Your leg should be at a 90-degree angle. Now slowly shift your weight forward. Arms can stay on the ground or by your sides. Repeat on both sides. Repeat multiple times per day. 3. Seated Piriformis stretch This stretch can ease knee and ankle pain and help against sciatic nerve pain. This pose starts seated on a chair. If your right side is affected place your right ankle on your left knee. Try and keep your back straight. No lean forward until you feel a stretch in your buttocks. Repeat on both sides. Repeat multiple times a day. 4. Table stretch The table stretch is great for stretching your lower back and the back of your legs as well as your buttocks. Stand with your feet a little wider than your hips. Face a table or chair. You must keep your back straight. Lean forward with your hands holding onto the table or a chair. Slightly pull your hips back. You should feel a stretch. Moving side to side will increase the stretch even more. Repeat multiple times a day. 5. Standing hamstring stretch This stretch, as the name says, stretches your hamstring and muscles around the sciatic nerve. Stand straight. Place your right leg onto something steady like a bench or a chair. Flex your toes upwards and slowly bend forward reaching your fingers towards your toes. Repeat with the opposite leg. Breathe and repeat multiple times a day. 6. Reclining pigeon pose This pose is commonly used in yoga and helps open the hips. Lay flat on your back. Bring your left leg up so it’s at a 90-degree angle. Lift your right leg and place your ankle on your left knee. Grab your left thigh with both hands. Repeat on the other side. 7. Forward pigeon pose This yoga pose stretches your hips and lower body and increases the flexibility of lower back muscles as well as hip flexors. Start on all fours. Move your right leg forwards so it’s between your hands. Bring your right knee to the ground. Your right foot should be right in front of your left knee. Stretch the left leg back so your left knee is on your mat and release the toes. Shift back so the weight is on your legs rather than your arms. Now slowly bend your upper body forward. Repeat on the other side as well. These stretches help reduce inflammation and work against sciatic nerve pain. Long periods of sitting aren’t recommended so take breaks to get up and move around. Exercise caution and patience when stretching. Some medications help with inflammation and relax your muscles which are also a treatment against sciatica nerve pain. Be sure to talk to a doctor about what’s best for your body.

Diabetes, whether it be Type 1 or Type 2 is quite common and manageable. People with diabetes learn to manage their symptoms and their condition, and often it does not have an adverse effect on quality of life as long as a healthy diet is maintained and blood glucose levels are monitored closely. When considering having a baby or if you are already pregnant, and have diabetes, there are a few extra considerations you might need to keep in mind before and during your pregnancy. Diabetes is a manageable condition that is also manageable during pregnancy, and just requires balanced management of your health for preparation before pregnancy and monitoring during your pregnancy. Diabetes is a condition during which the body has trouble processing food for use as energy. When we eat, we turn it into glucose so that our bodies can use it as energy. The pancreas makes insulin to help that glucose get into the cells of our bodies, and this helps to regulate our blood-sugar concentration. Insulin is unbalanced when someone has diabetes, and treatment and vigilance are necessary to manage the condition. Pregnancy is also known to cause complications. For about seven percent of all pregnancies, gestational diabetes (diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy) is a potential problem that usually occurs in the second half of the pregnancy. By the time the baby is born, it is usually gone, and it can be managed quite easily, but if it is not treated during the pregnancy, the possibility of complication rises significantly. Causes Hormones are running wild during pregnancy, and some of them can cause the body to be resistant to the action of insulin. This will affect the body’s ability to absorb glucose for your brain, heart, tissues, and muscles. Additionally, it may affect your baby as all of the nutrients the baby receives come from the expecting mother. For mothers experiencing gestational diabetes, insulin fails to move glucose to the cells that need it, leading the glucose to accumulate in the blood and making blood sugar levels rise. How Will You Know? You should know if you start feeling faint or your energy levels are low, but to confirm you should take a blood test. Your doctor will usually have you drink a sweet beverage, which will act as the stimulant for the test. If your blood sugar is too high, then your pancreas is not producing enough insulin, and you have gestational diabetes. Usually, just one test is enough, but some doctors prefer to do an initial screening test and then a longer evaluation to cover all the bases. Having a definitive diagnosis is an important first step toward taking care of you and your baby during pregnancy if you are experiencing gestational diabetes. Who Is at Risk People who have a parent or sibling with diabetes may be at higher risk for gestational diabetes. Knowing your family’s medical history can help plan for this. Expecting mothers who may be overweight are also at higher risk than normal for gestational diabetes. Gaining weight is a natural part of being pregnant, but managing a healthy diet and regular exercise can help lower the risk of getting gestational diabetes and its effects can be minimized if you do get it. Diabetes and Your Baby Keeping your baby healthy during the gestational period is important for the baby’s health when it is born. Gestational diabetes could affect your baby when it is born, causing low blood sugar or high birth weight. Low Blood Sugar If your gestational diabetes has been causing high blood sugar levels during your pregnancy, your baby may have low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia. Without the supply of sugar from maternal blood, your baby’s blood may fall temporarily while the nurses and doctors monitor and treat any episodes of low blood sugar. High Birth Weight Exposure to high sugar levels may also result in higher birth weight for your baby. This could make the delivery complicated for both you and your baby as it weighs more and is physically larger. If You Are Already Diabetic It may be the case that you are already diabetic and are planning to get pregnant. Women with pre-existing type 1 or type 2 diabetes should receive quality preconception care. This will help optimize glycemic control, find complications, assess whether medication is needed, and begin the folic acid supplementation process. Often a healthcare team that includes a diabetes nurse educator, dietician, obstetrician, and endocrinologist/internist with expertise in diabetes is needed. This team will be responsible for managing the effects of the mother’s diabetes pre-conception and during the pregnancy to ensure the health of the mother and the delivery of a healthy baby. Preparation Whether you are at risk of diabetes or already have diabetes, a visit to your doctor or diabetes educator at least 6 months before you start trying to conceive is recommended. The advice and guidance they give you will help at every step of the process, and help increase the odds of healthy and safe childbirth. If you are already healthy and your diabetes is well controlled when you become pregnant, you have a good chance of having a normal pregnancy and birth. Breastfeeding Having diabetes will not affect your breastfeeding, and insulin is not harmful to the baby. Your post-delivery care should continue to ensure that you and your baby are healthy. A baby has a slight chance of developing diabetes if the mother is diabetic, but it is far more likely that they will not. Manageable, and Normal While diabetes is a serious condition that needs to be handled and treated with care, it is not impossible. With the right precautions, care, and team, you and your baby will have a healthy pregnancy and delivery, and you will be able to enjoy being a mother without issues. Sources: https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/diabetes-during-pregnancy https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/diabetes-types.html https://www.diabetes.ca/health-care-providers/clinical-practice-guidelines/chapter-36#panel-tab_FullText https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=diabetes-and-pregnancy-90-P02444 https://www.healthline.com/health/gestational-diabetes https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/diabetes-in-pregnancy

The past year has brought a host of changes with it that have been quite unwelcome for most people. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on economies around the world, thrown millions out of work, and turned much of the way we work and live on its head. For some, this change has been welcome, and for some, not so much. It has made life more complicated, even at the simplest levels. Going to the grocery store requires bringing and wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer at multiple steps of the process, and staying socially distanced through the whole process. If something so simple can be made complicated when a health pandemic strikes, how is something so much more complicated like childbirth different during a pandemic? Delivery Location You will need to choose a delivery location close to you and one that has everything needed for delivering your baby. Likely, you have already chosen a hospital or medical center. Another thing to consider during this process is whether the delivery location is equipped to handle a birth during the pandemic and whether you will feel comfortable there. Visiting Policy It is highly recommended that a support person accompany you to the hospital, and be there for the birth of your child, during and after. Outcomes are often improved by having someone with you. Unfortunately, due to the current health pandemic, many hospitals or medical centers are not allowing anyone to accompany you. It is best to check the visiting policy of your delivery location ahead of time so that you know what to expect. If you are not ok with their visiting policy, then it is best to choose another location as long as it suits you and has the capability of protecting both you and your baby with the necessary precautions such as personal protective equipment and isolated spaces for the delivery. Food Due to the policies around visitors and the person that may want to accompany you, your delivery location may have specific policies around food and how to get it. To keep everything sanitized, most hospitals and medical centers will wrap their food in plastic as well as any cutlery. There will also likely be restrictions on when and where any visitors can get food. In some cases, your support person may not be able to leave for food or clothes to reduce the risk of exposure or infection to the coronavirus. You and your support person should plan to stay in the hospital for a few days at least. What to Expect When Arriving When you arrive at the hospital or medical center, you will likely be rushing and everything will be very exciting. At the same time, you might be nervous because of the pandemic. Luckily, hospitals are a sanitary and controlled environment in which to give birth, and you can trust that they will have the necessary precautions in place to protect you, your baby, and your support person. Who is Allowed In the Room? Your support person may or may not be allowed in the room with you, and this will largely depend on the delivery location’s policy. Since you will both need to be tested before entering, if your support person tests positive for the coronavirus, then it is unlikely they will be allowed in the hospital, let alone the delivery room. While in the room, social distancing (as much as possible) will be necessary. Your support person will be allowed in the room, but will likely need to stand away from the delivery area as the nurses and doctors are working. Measures In Place to Protect Mother and Baby The hospital is focused on protecting all patients, so you will not need to worry about your health as long as you follow the safety guidelines they have put in place. Personal protective equipment will be used by nurses and doctors, and sanitization and social distancing are paramount in any medical setting. You might also need to wear a mask to help protect the health of the nurses and doctors assisting in the birth of your baby. It may be uncomfortable, and make the delivery more awkward, but protecting the healthcare workers who are protecting you is paramount to everyone’s health and safety during this pandemic. What About Breastfeeding? Breastfeeding shouldn’t be an issue if you have been infected with or test positive for the coronavirus. Your healthcare professional will be able to advise you on what to do and whether you should or should not breastfeed. Expect the Unexpected It is normal to have a plan and want to be prepared for the birth of your child. It is the beginning of a new life and you have prepared both literally and in your mind for this special moment. Although your plan is in place, you should expect things to change. The pandemic has upended many normal things in our lives, and with that has come to the complication of managing the health risks of the coronavirus while trying to live a normal life. Anxiety and concern are normal through all of this. Expect the unexpected, and remember that your baby is only the one directing the plan, so don’t worry if something doesn’t happen the way you thought it would. Your doctors, nurses, and support person will all be there to help you along the way. Sources: https://www.whattoexpect.com/news/pregnancy/giving-birth-during-coronavirus-stories/ https://uvahealth.com/services/covid19/birth-coronavirus-faqs

When you are pregnant, it can be scary to suddenly see blood. Don’t panic quite yet. Some vaginal bleeding/spotting during pregnancy is normal and most women go on to have a healthy pregnancy. However, some cases can be more severe and require immediate medical attention. How can you tell which is which? Well, in this article, we will go over vaginal bleeding vs spotting, what causes each, and what to do when you experience it. Vaginal Bleeding vs Spotting Bleeding/spotting during pregnancy is pretty common, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. However, it can be an indication of a larger problem occurring in your body. Not all vaginal bleeding is the same. There is a difference between vaginal bleeding during pregnancy and vaginal spotting. Vagina bleeding is typically heavy and can fill a pad, and it tends to be red in color. Vaginal spotting is typically a light brown or pink color and doesn’t even fill a panty liner. Vaginal bleeding/spotting can be caused by a multitude of reasons. What Causes Vaginal Spotting During Pregnancy? Vaginal spotting during pregnancy is typically light pink/red or brown in color and usually doesn’t soak a panty liner. These small amounts of blood from the vagina can cause many women to panic, but typically it is not a cause for concern. Spotting in Pregnancy Throughout your pregnancy, vaginal spotting can be a result of implantation bleeding, sex, an internal exam, an infection, or your mucus plug coming out. With each of these cases of spotting, reach out to a doctor to express your concern. They can put your mind at ease and perform more diagnostic tests, if necessary. Implantation Bleeding: At the very beginning of your pregnancy when the embryo implants into the uterine wall, you may experience some spotting. This spotting is usually lighter than your period, but many women still mistake this for their period. Similarly, the bleeding may only last a few hours to a couple of days. Implantation bleeding is very normal and common. Sex/Internal Exam: Throughout your pregnancy, your vagina and cervix become much more sensitive. The blood vessels are closer to the skin’s surface so any sort of minor irritations can cause bleeding. Sex and even a pap smear/cervical exam can irritate the vagina or cervix and cause bleeding. An Infection: If your cervix or vagina becomes infected or irritated you may experience some bleeding. Again, this is because of the delicate nature of your vagina/cervix at this time. Mucus Plug (Preterm Labor): At the start of your labor your mucus plug (the lining which is holding your baby in your uterus) comes out. A small amount of spotting is normal and typically indicates the start of your labor. What Causes Vaginal Bleeding During Pregnancy? If you are experiencing a heavier blood flow, and the blood appears to be bright red in color, then you may be experiencing vaginal bleeding. Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is typically a sign of a larger problem with your pregnancy. It is important that you contact your doctor to rule out any possible problems. Bleeding in Pregnancy Bleeding during pregnancy can be caused by a multitude of health conditions. Some possible reasons you could be experiencing vaginal bleeding are because of an ectopic pregnancy, a molar pregnancy, a miscarriage, placenta previa, or placental abruption. Ectopic Pregnancy: An ectopic pregnancy occurs within the first few days or weeks of the pregnancy. This is when the embryo implants outside of the uterus, typically in the ovaries or the fallopian tube. This condition is life-threatening and needs to be treated as soon as possible by a medical professional. Other symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include light-headedness, fainting, shock, severe cramping or abdominal pain, and shoulder pain. Molar Pregnancy: This condition occurs when a fertilized egg no longer becomess viable and becomes a mass of tissue. This tissue can continue to grow and expand in the uterus. Other symptoms of this condition include nausea, vomiting, and intense abdominal pain. Again, contact your physician if you experience any or all of these symptoms. Miscarriage: A miscarriage typically occurs when the placenta was not viable due to a genetic or chromosomal defect. This bleeding is typically very heavy and is accompanied by abdominal cramping and pain. A miscarriage usually occurs within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Placenta Previa: Placenta previa can cause vaginal bleeding during pregnancy and requires immediate medical attention. This condition is when the placenta lies very low in the uterus and covers the birth canal. Placental Abruption: A placenta abruption is when the placenta detaches from the uterine wall and a layer of blood forms between the placenta and the uterus. This condition is very serious and requires immediate medical attention. What to Do When you Experience Vaginal Bleeding/Spotting If at any point in your pregnancy you experience vaginal bleeding/spotting it is ok to seek out a doctor’s help. Even if it ends up being nothing to worry about it is always better to be safe than sorry. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms please talk to your doctor and seek medical help. Key Takeaways Some vaginal bleeding or spotting during pregnancy is normal, but if it starts to become severe or painful you should probably call your doctor. There are a variety of reasons that vaginal bleeding and spotting can occur, and your physician is the best person to determine the cause of the problem. Many women who have vaginal spotting go on to have a normal and healthy pregnancy. Make sure you are taking care of yourself and your baby before and after your pregnancy. And let Bellefit make your postpartum journey smooth and pain-free with a postpartum girdle. Bellefit postpartum girdles are postpartum garments designed to offer medical-grade compression to your abdomen. This pressure helps to align your muscle back into their original place and prevent you from hurting yourself. With the extra support provided, you can feel safe to perform your daily tasks without fear of hurting yourself or being in pain. Invest in your comfort and your future with a Bellefit postpartum girdle.

We’ve all heard the weird food craving pregnancy stories. Pickles and ice cream, hot dogs and peanut butter, or even pizza with hot fudge on it. And before you ask, yes, these are all pregnancy cravings that real women have had. Besides these food cravings, some women may even experience cravings for things that aren’t even food. In this article, we are going to break down what causes these cravings, common cravings, and foods you should not eat during pregnancy. What Causes Food Cravings During Pregnancy? Throughout your pregnancy, you will likely have some pretty intense food cravings. While every woman is different, the cravings typically begin at the end of the first trimester and tend to decline in the third trimester. Food cravings during pregnancy can be weird and volatile. One day you can love a certain food, and during pregnancy just the thought of it makes you want to vomit. Similarly, foods that you used to despise you can now crave. So, what causes this? Well, researchers still have not been able to determine the exact reason for food cravings during pregnancy but there are a variety of theories. Hormones As with almost anything when it comes to pregnancy a possible culprit for your food cravings is hormones. Your rapid change in hormones can cause your senses to go crazy. You can smell and taste things much better which can influence the way you experience food. Changes to your Senses During pregnancy, your senses become very sensitive. You can smell things much better and this can affect the foods that you crave. Foods with particularly pungent odors may turn you away, while foods that smell good can increase your cravings for them. Nutritional Needs Your body craves the nutrients it needs. If you suddenly find yourself dying for a glass of orange juice, your body may be telling you that it needs some Vitamin C. The same goes for your pregnancy cravings. Because you are growing a new life inside of you, your body will need more of certain nutrients. These can include calcium and iron. Unfortunately, our bodies are not very good at telling us what foods to eat to get these nutrients. For example, if you have an intense craving for chocolate your body most likely is deprived of magnesium. Chocolate doesn’t have a large amount of magnesium in it, but that doesn’t stop the cravings. This is the same with pregnancy cravings. Make sure you have a well-balanced diet with all of your necessary nutrients. Comfort With your fluctuating hormones and increase of stress and anxiety about having a baby, you may find yourself reaching for comfort food. Anybody going through a particularly stressful time can reach for food as a coping mechanism. Pregnancy is one of the most stressful times in a woman’s life, it is only natural that we crave comfort food. Common Food Cravings During Pregnancy There are a few foods that many pregnant women tend to crave. One study determined that the most highly craved foods by pregnant women are: Sweets Fast Food (particularly high calorie, high carbohydrate foods) Fruits Animal Protein Other common cravings include: Pickles Ice cream Fruit juice Dairy Vegetables Chocolate In addition, many women crave a combination of these foods. That’s where weird pregnancy cravings come from such as pizza (fast food) with chocolate on it (sweet). Not only that, but some women are known to crave food outside of their dietary restrictions. For example, a woman who eats a vegetarian diet may find herself craving meat. This can be an indication that you are iron deficient. If you want to maintain your vegetarian diet you can try to add more iron-rich foods to your diet. Or if you are not too stringent, you can just give in and eat meat during your pregnancy. Foods Not To Eat During Pregnancy Most of the time it is perfectly fine and normal to give in to your pregnancy cravings. Sometimes, this is not the case. Some foods that you may crave can cause complications in your pregnancy. Foods like sushi, undercooked meat, soft cheese, and deli meats can lead to bacterial infections. Similarly, many women crave alcoholic drinks. This can be easily remedied with a virgin version of the drink. Dangerous Cravings During Pregnancy Some of the oddest cravings that can come from pregnancy are cravings for non-food items. Women have been known to crave cigarettes, concrete, detergent, or even paint chips. Craving non-food items is a condition called pica. Pica is not uncommon in pregnant women and usually is an indication of a nutritional deficiency. Make sure you talk to your doctor about your cravings so they can recommend a good course of action, such as supplements or an adjustment to your diet. Key Takeaways Food cravings during pregnancy are normal and expected. In fact, one study determined that 50-90% of women experience some form of pregnancy cravings. While there is no definitive reason for these cravings there are a few theories. These theories include changing hormones, changing nutritional needs, a change to your senses, and a desire for comfort. There are a lot of common food cravings and even some cravings that can be dangerous to you or the baby. Thankfully, most food cravings go away after pregnancy, but now you have to deal with the extra weight from all those cravings. Investing in a Bellefit postpartum girdle can help you feel better faster so you can get to exercising sooner. Get back into your pre-pregnancy body and get healthy by purchasing a postpartum girdle today!

You’ve been warned, but now you have finally experienced them--pregnancy dreams. It is not uncommon to experience weird dreams while pregnant. Now, not only do you have to deal with sleep interrupted by pee breaks and discomfort, but weird dreams are waking up you too. Don’t worry, in this article we will explain why pregnancy affects dreams, when they start, common dreams, and what to do about them. How Does Pregnancy Affect Dreams Pregnant women often report an increase in strange, weird, and sometimes frightening dreams. In addition, pregnant women also report an increased ability to recall their dreams. These dreams can be so real, vivid, and detailed that you may wake up wondering if they were real. In most cases, vivid and detailed dreams during pregnancy are normal and healthy. Dreams help us process our emotions and often can release stress that we may have had throughout the day. So, with this in mind, we can discuss why pregnancy affects dreams. Why Does Pregnancy Affect Dreams There are a few theories about why pregnancy affects your dreams so much. One theory is that it is hormones. Hormones affect so many other parts of your life and your pregnancy experience that this could be the culprit. Another theory is that because you are waking up so many times throughout the night, you are interrupting your dream cycle. When you interrupt a dream cycle you are stopping the dream right in the middle of it. This can lead you to remember more details and imagine the dreams much more vividly. Finally, dreams are also a way that your subconscious processes your emotions and your stress. With so many things to worry about with a new baby coming, you may be unable to process all your emotions during the day. Because of this, your subconscious has more things to process which can cause you to have vivid and intense dreams. When Do Pregnancy Dreams Start Every person dreams every night. You may not remember your dreams in the morning, but everyone has dreams. So, technically you are dreaming throughout your entire pregnancy. However, the vivid dreams and increased recall of dreams typically starts to occur in the third trimester. The belief is that this is because you are waking up multiple times during the night due to your pregnancy. Women in their third trimester wake up more times than the average person during the night to go pee, readjust their sleeping position, or because they are experiencing heartburn, etc. When a woman wakes up in the middle of the night they interrupt their REM cycle which causes them to remember their dreams. Common Pregnancy Dreams Every dream is different, just like every person is different. However, there are a few common types of dreams that pregnant women tend to have. Dreams About Forgetting Something: Some women tend to have recurring dreams where they forget to lock the front door or turn off the oven. These can stem from a fear that you are not ready to become a mother. Injury Dreams: Another common dream is one where you are falling from a high height or you are injured in some way. These can stem from feelings of vulnerability. Restriction Dreams: Dreams where you are physically restricted, tied down, or chained to something are also common. These can be an indicator that you are afraid of the responsibilities and restrictions of becoming a mom. Dreams With Ancestors: You have a new generation of your family growing inside of you, it is only natural that you may dream of your past ancestors. Dreams about your baby: Many women experience dreams of cuddling, kissing, and caring for their baby while pregnant. This can be a way for your subconscious mind to attach to your baby before they are born. Similarly, you can have dreams about the baby and their life after they are born. You can dream about them being born with a problem or deformity, or you can dream about them becoming a child prodigy. These dreams can be a way for your subconscious mind to confront your fears or wishes for your new child. Dreams about Labor and Delivery: Many pregnant women also experience weird dreams about labor and delivery. These typically stem from fears about the labor and delivery process. Sex Dreams: Another very common dream is one about sex. Your hormones during pregnancy increase your sexual arousal, so it is not uncommon for you to have sex dreams. They can be a way of expressing your desires or just be a release of tension. What To Do About Pregnancy Dreams Pregnancy dreams are a completely normal and healthy part of the pregnancy experience. Even nightmares are a way of your subconscious trying to explore unknowns and gain control over a very large change in your life. Don’t worry too much about them. However, if they are interrupting your sleep too much, or you have reason to believe something may be wrong, talk to your doctor. The best way to combat weird dreams while pregnant is to try to get as much sleep as possible. When you wake up in the middle of a sleep cycle, you are likely going to remember your dreams. If you sleep through the night or wake up only a few times, you are less likely to remember your dreams. Similarly, try writing your dreams down in a dream journal. That way you can analyze them and see if there is a common theme among them. Because your dreams are a part of your subconscious there may be something you need to work through in your waking life in order to stop them. All in all, don’t take too much to heart when it comes to pregnancy dreams. Our imaginations are much more creative than we give them credit for. Key Takeaways Weird dreams while pregnant are normal, healthy, and common. There is no specific reason for why your dreams are so vivid, but there are theories about it. These dreams typically occur in the third trimester, and there are usually a few common themes among them. If you are concerned about your dreams, talk to your physician, or try to write them in a dream journal and work out what might be causing them. If you are having dreams about postpartum recovery and your body after delivery, don’t worry, Bellefit’s postpartum girdle has you covered. With a Bellefit postpartum girdle, you can recover faster and get rid of your jelly belly with ease. Simply use this medical-grade compression garment after delivery and watch as the results come to you. Bellefit postpartum girdles are an excellent choice for your postpartum recovery journey. Get yours today!

After nine months of waiting and preparing your baby is finally here. And after all the adrenaline has worn off and you have successfully completed your delivery, you are going to have to do a lot of healing. In this article we put together 13 postpartum care must-haves for a successful, fast, and easy postpartum recovery. What to expect after delivery During your pregnancy you probably researched and read up on every possible thing relating to your new baby. And those of you who are brave, have probably even looked into what to expect during delivery. However, many women do not prepare for their postpartum journey. Everyone loves to talk about the pregnancy, the labor, the delivery - because those are the exciting parts of having a baby, but nobody wants to talk about the unexciting part - recovering. Your body just went through nine months of growing, changing, fluctuating hormones, and finally through hours of intense labor. If you had a vaginal delivery your vagina is going to be sore, itchy, and raw for the better part of six weeks after your delivery. And for some women the recovery period might even be longer if they tore and had to get stitches. If you have a C-section delivery, you will probably be looking at a similar recovery period and have your stitches or staples or glue to take care of too. You will be cramping, your hair will be falling out, your nipples will be leaking and sore - even if you aren’t breastfeeding, and your vagina will be bleeding - getting out all the lochia (uterine lining). Postpartum recovery is no joke, and it can be overwhelming if you aren’t prepared for it. So what can you do to prepare? Get together a postpartum recovery kit. Postpartum Recovery Kit A postpartum recovery kit is a bag/stash with all of the things you will need to be successful in your postpartum journey. This postpartum recovery kit should be filled with all the postpartum care must-haves so that you can have a smooth and fast recovery. Postpartum Care Must-haves (For Down Under) To ensure that you are prepared for the postpartum journey, we have put together a list of our top postpartum care must-haves. 1. Pads After giving birth your body will begin to shed the uterine lining called lochia. This process looks and feels similar to a normal period and typically is heaviest the first 10 days after giving birth. After those 10 days, you may continue to spot for the next four to six weeks. Your vagina is still recovering from giving birth so you will not be able to use tampons, therefore you will need to stock up on pads. 2. Underwear Due to the postpartum vaginal bleeding that you will experience most women choose to purchase new/comfortable underwear. You don’t want to get your blood all over your nice underwear, so investing in a few pairs of postpartum underwear will help you avoid ruining other pairs. Try out these full-coverage cotton panties from Bellefit. They are comfortable and provide all the coverage you need. 3. Perineal Cooling Pads Unfortunately your vagina is going to itch and burn after giving birth. And you will need some much needed relief - that is where perineal cooling pads come in. These cooling pads are absorbent and lie on top of your pad. They provide cooling and medicinal relief to your aching vagina. A popular brand, TUCKS, uses witch hazel to soothe, cool, and moisturize your nether regions. 4. Peri bottle Due to the traumatized skin and tissue, you will want to avoid wiping and using toilet paper for the first week or two after delivery. A peri bottle is used to clean your vaginal area and ensure that you stay clean. Typically hospitals will give you one to take home, but these ones are not always the easiest to use. Try finding an upside-down peri bottle that has an easy-squeeze container, such as this one by Frida Mom. 5. Perineal Spray Your vaginal area will need a medicated spray to ease the healing process. After using your peri bottle, spray a little bit of Dermoplast to soothe stinging and itching. Postpartum Care Must-Have (For Breasts) Not only will your vagina be hurting, your breasts will also hurt too. Even if you are not planning on breastfeeding, your breasts will leak milk until the milk dries up. These are the must-haves for your breast needs. 1. Nursing Bra If you are planning on breastfeeding, you will need a good nursing bra. This bra will support your breasts and has a quick clip so you can easily breastfeed without taking your whole bra off. Try out this one by Bellefit. 2. Nipple Cream As you breastfeed your nipples can become dry and cracked. This can cause pain. In order to combat that, many women use a nipple cream or a lotion. This will help keep your nipples moisturized and reduce pain. 3. Nipple Pads For those of you who do not breastfeed, nipple pads are something you would only have to use for a little bit. These pads are placed in your bra, over your nipple, and absorb any leaking milk. For breastfeeding moms these will be necessary until you stop breastfeeding. Make sure you have a stack of them readily available. Postpartum Care Must-Have (In General) Besides your breasts and your vagina, you will most likely be in pain. Here are a few products that help combat your general life issues during your postpartum recovery period. 1. Stool Softener Not exactly glamorous, but helpful, will be stool softener. Truth is you will have to have a bowel movement at some point after giving birth, but all the pain can make it scary. It sounds ridiculous, but it is true. Straining to go to the bathroom can cause unneeded pain and discomfort. Using a stool softener can help to ensure that you remain comfortable during all bathroom voyages. 2. Prenatal Vitamins You read that right - prenatal vitamins. Sounds counterintuitive but it can actually help your body adjust to the hormonal changes easier. Taking a prenatal vitamin can even help reduce your postpartum hair loss by maintaining a steady level of hormones in your body. Just be sure to talk to your doctor before continuing their use. 3. Pain Medication During the postpartum recovery period you will experience cramping that is similar to period pain. This can make you feel run-down and tired. According to physicians, ibuprofen (advil/motrin), is safe to take after giving birth and while breastfeeding. Just be sure to ask your doctor before self-medicating. 4. Compression Leggings You are going to need a nice and comfortable pair of leggings to lounge around the house in after giving birth. Try out Bellefit’s compression leggings. They are comfortable and provide compression to your abdominal region which can relieve pain in the abdomen. 5. Postpartum Girdle Finally, the pièce de résistance, a postpartum girdle. Postpartum girdles are our number one postpartum care must-have. They provide much-needed support for your abdominal region, medical grade compression, and can even help with diastasis recti. Bellefit has a postpartum girdle for everyone. They are perfect for vaginal or c-section deliveries and will help you get better faster. We hope that this list of postpartum care must-haves has been helpful, and that you have found everything you will need for your postpartum recovery kit. Is there anything else you would add to the kit? Let us know in the comments!

With all of the things you have to prepare for when you find out you are pregnant a maternity hospital tour may not be at the top of the list. However, this can make or break your labor and delivery experience. There are many policies and practices in place at the hospital that will affect your labor and delivery. So, that is why it is important to ask questions. If you have a particular birth plan you want to stick to, this is especially important. To make sure you have the best labor and delivery journey, we have put together a list of questions to ask during a maternity hospital tour. What to Expect on a Maternity Hospital Tour While the labor and delivery process can be overwhelming and confusing, it doesn’t have to be. Having as much knowledge as possible before you even go to the hospital can greatly relieve your anxiety and nerves. Many women choose to go on a hospital tour of their preferred hospital so that they know what to expect. While a hospital tour is an excellent idea, it won’t necessarily give your all of the information you may need. A maternity hospital tour typically takes about 20-30 minutes to complete. They are most often guided by a labor and delivery nurse or a hospital educator. Their job is to get you acquainted with the layout of the hospital and make you feel more comfortable and at ease. They will usually cover where you should park, where you will check-in, where the labor and delivery rooms are, and where the postpartum/recovery rooms are. Now while this can be very informative, you may still have questions. So don’t be afraid to ask them. If you are not quite sure what you should be asking, don’t worry we have made a list of questions to ask during a maternity hospital tour. Questions to Ask During Maternity Hospital Tour Depending on your personal birth plan and concerns, you will have questions only pertaining to a few subjects. We have separated into different topics to make it easier to find the relevant questions for you. The topics are labor and delivery questions, C-section questions, and postpartum recovery questions. Labor & Delivery Questions to Ask During Maternity Hospital Tour Where is the check-in area for labor and delivery? Is there a different check-in area at night? Is there check-in paperwork that needs to be done? Can we do it beforehand? What do I need to bring with me to the maternity ward? Do I need to bring my medical chart or can it be sent over? Is there a triage process? How long do women typically stay in triage? What is the birthing room situation? Is there a separate room for birthing? Or can I stay in the same room for all stages of the labor process? Are the rooms shared? Can I get a private room if I want one? What happens when all of the birthing rooms are taken? Is there an overflow area? What amenities are provided in the labor and birthing rooms? Are their showers and tubs? Are there birth balls? Is there a music hook-up? Is food allowed in the rooms? Will I be able to eat and drink during labor? What food can I bring from home? How many people are allowed in the room with me? Are children allowed? Is there a chair/bed/cot for my partner to spend the night in the room with me? Are IV’s required? What pain management options are available? What type of fetal monitoring do you have available? Do you have any labor and delivery statistics for me to look over? Such as what percentage of women are induced? What is the percentage of women who are given an emergency C-section? Etc. Should I send/bring my birth plan? If my doctor/midwife is not on-call, will the on-call doctor go with my birth plan? Will I be able to labor at my own pace or will I be put on a time limit? What positions can I give birth in? Are there doulas here? What are the policies on cameras and filming equipment? Would I be allowed to take the placenta home afterwards? Is there a NICU in the hospital? How far away from the delivery rooms is the NICU? If there is not a NICU, what is the protocol for getting a baby to the NICU? C-section Questions to Ask During Maternity Hospital Tour If my Cesarean is planned where do we go to check in? Will my partner be allowed in the room for the delivery? Can I have photos of the birth? Will I be able to watch the surgery via mirror, clear drapes, or lowered drapes? Will I be able to have skin-to-skin contact with my baby immediately after birth? If my baby needs to be taken from the room can my partner go with them? What medications are available during and after delivery? Postpartum Recovery Questions to Ask During Maternity Hospital Tour What pain relief options are available postpartum? Are they different for Cesarean births? How long is the average stay after labor and delivery? Is there an early discharge policy? Are the postpartum rooms private? Can babies sleep in the same room as me? Can pediatricians do bedside visits? What is your visitor policy? Are young children allowed? Do you have a lactation consultant? Are they available 24/7? What is your policy on breastfeeding over bottles? Can siblings visit? Are pacifiers used in the nursery? If they are, will I be asked for approval prior to their usage? Does the nursery use formula? Will I be notified before formula is used? What new parent support is offered? Key Takeaways The labor and delivery process can be stressful and overwhelming. There are so many moving parts and questions to ask that you can lose track. Hopefully this list of questions can help ensure that you have all your questions answered. Make sure that you are well-informed and are comfortable with your hospital's policies. Some hospitals will offer a postpartum girdle to help with pain after labor and delivery. If your hospital doesn’t offer this, go to Bellefit and get one for yourself. Our postpartum girdles offer medical-grade compression and proven to effectively reduce pain. Don’t suffer with pain and discomfort when we are here to help. Get your Bellefit postpartum girdle today.

Heartburn is one of the many problems that comes with being pregnant. Not only does this condition cause discomfort, but it can keep you awake at night too. No one wants to deal with heartburn, but sometimes it is inevitable. In this article, we will discuss how to handle heartburn while pregnant, including treatments for heartburn and preventions for heartburn. Heartburn While Pregnant Heartburn while pregnant typically begins to occur in the first trimester and continues throughout your pregnancy. Despite its name, heartburn is not related to your heart. Heartburn is when your stomach contents move up into the esophagus. Because of the acidity of your stomach acid, this causes a burning feeling in your chest and throat. Causes of Heartburn While Pregnant During pregnancy your body produces a large amount of the hormones progesterone and relaxin. These hormones are responsible for relaxing your muscles so that your growing baby has room in the uterus. In addition, this slows down the digestive process which can cause indigestion, gas, and heartburn. The slow digestive process is beneficial during pregnancy because it allows the nutrients from your food to be absorbed more thoroughly. This helps your baby absorb the nutrients and benefit from them. An unfortunate side effect is that your gastrointestinal tract doesn’t work as well. At the top of your stomach there is a valve that opens and closes at the entrance to your stomach. The increase of these hormones causes this valve to not open and close properly. This allows your stomach acids and digestive fluids to escape the stomach. Unlike your stomach, your esophagus is composed of a thin and sensitive lining. This lining can be easily irritated by these stomach acids. The result is a burning sensation at the opening which is located near the heart, thus the term heartburn. How to Handle Heartburn While Pregnant Heartburn is uncomfortable but you don’t just have to suffer through it. Thankfully, there are a few treatment options that are safe and available for pregnant women to use. Take an Antacid: Tums, Rolaids, and Maalox are all safe and effective ways to treat heartburn. Not only will these medications help ease heartburn, but they also contain calcium which is a necessary nutrient for fetal development. These are all available over the counter and are relatively inexpensive. Try to avoid antacids that may contain aspirin such as Alka-Seltzer. Try Drinking a Glass of Milk: If you aren’t quite ready to reach for the medications, try drinking a small glass of almond milk. Many mothers-to-be find milk to be a soothing antidote for heartburn. Try using Ginger Candy: Ginger is a natural remedy for nausea. So, many people find it also helps with heartburn. You can find some ginger candies to relieve the heartburn. Try to avoid ginger ale, because carbonation can make your heartburn worse. Chew Gum: When you chew gum your body produces more saliva. Saliva can neutralize the acidity of your stomach acids. However, try not to chew on minty gum as this can make your heartburn worse. How to Prevent Heartburn While Pregnant While there are many methods for treating heartburn, you will probably want to prevent heartburn in the first place. There are some everyday things that you can do to decrease the probability of getting heartburn. Eat small meals throughout the day. Eat several small meals or snacks instead of three large meals. This will prevent your stomach from becoming too full which can lead to heartburn. Avoid certain foods. Things such as caffeine, spicy foods, citrus, carbonated beverages, and fried/greasy foods can increase your probability of getting heartburn. If you find that a certain food usually causes you heartburn then avoid them. Drink after meals not during them. If you drink while you are eating your stomach is likely to become fuller and bloated. This can cause your stomach acids to rise up and cause heartburn. If you eat first and then drink, you can be more mindful of when you feel full. Eat slowly. If you eat too fast you won’t be able to tell when your stomach is getting full. If you eat slowly and mindfully you can check in with yourself and see how full you are getting. This can prevent you from getting heartburn. Wear loose clothing. If you are wearing clothing that is too tight around your abdomen, you can add pressure to your stomach. This can push stomach acids up further and cause heartburn. Keep your clothing loose and comfortable to avoid this. Avoid lying down after eating. Make sure you eat while you are sitting up straight and avoid lying down afterwards for a few hours. When you lie down you stomach acids can come up more easily. Make gravity work for you by remaining upright for a few hours after you eat. Raise your head when you sleep. Make sure you go to sleep with your head elevated. This can help prevent acids from coming up your esophagus. You don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night with heartburn. When To Contact Your Doctor If your heartburn won’t go away or you are prone to heartburn, try talking to your doctor. They can prescribe medication that is more effective than what you get over the counter. They also will be able to prescribe you medication that is safe during pregnancy. Typically, heartburn will go away after childbirth, but if it doesn’t contact your physician. Key Takeaways Heartburn is common among pregnant women. It is caused by pregnancy hormones and can lead to a burning sensation in your chest and throat. There are medications and home remedies that you can use to treat heartburn. The best way to deal with heartburn is to try to prevent it. If your heartburn is severe, prolonged, or you are prone to heartburn, talk to your doctor. Heartburn is one of the unfortunate side effects of the hormones that come with pregnancy. Thankfully after pregnancy, these hormones steadily decrease so you likely won’t experience heartburn anymore. As these hormones decrease your muscles begin to firm up once again and settle into place. Using a Bellefit postpartum girdle, you can make sure that your abdominal muscles fall back into their original place. With medical-grade compression and a comfortable closure, these postpartum girdles are the best on the market. Get yours today!

The first time you feel your baby move is one of the most magical moments of pregnancy. Being able to feel the small kicks and jabs of your baby moving around is incredibly rewarding. Many first-time mothers can’t wait to experience it and wait with anticipation. If you are wondering when you will feel your baby move while pregnant, continue reading to find out! When will the baby move The term “quickening” refers to the moment during your pregnancy when you can begin to feel the baby move. When you feel your baby move is different for every woman and varies wildly. In general, women will begin to notice their baby move around 18-22 weeks into pregnancy. However, some women may feel the baby move as early as 16 weeks or as late as 25 weeks. The feeling of a baby moving around is very similar to gas, stomach, or hunger pains. For this reason, it is not uncommon for first-time mothers to not feel any movement until around the 16-20 week mark. Similarly, second or third-time mothers may notice the movement earlier because they have become more attuned to the feeling in their previous pregnancies. What does it feel like when the baby moves? The feeling of a baby moving in your uterus is hard to describe. Some women claim it feels like butterflies, others say it feels like a small fish swimming around. Still, others say it feels like your stomach dropping on a roller coaster or even the feeling of bad hunger. For each pregnancy, your experience is bound to be different. This inability to describe the feeling of a baby moving is precisely the reason why many first-time mothers find it difficult to determine. Once you have figured out what is happening, you will feel over the moon with joy. When are you most likely to feel the baby moving? Most women discover that they can’t really feel their baby’s movements unless they are at rest. This is often because they are up and moving around, or their attention is focused on other things. The best time to feel a baby moving is when you are resting, eating, or anxious. When you are resting, you are more attuned to your body. If you are sitting on the couch or lying down for the night you may be able to feel the baby moving around a little better. In addition, any changes to your blood sugar or blood pressure can force the baby to move. After you have eaten your baby may suddenly perform some cartwheels in your stomach. Similarly, if you are stressed or anxious, your baby may start to move a bit more. Try to get a sense of how your baby reacts to each of these scenarios. How often should the baby move? There is no set standard as to how often or how strong a baby’s movements should be. Some babies are content to remain still for long periods of time, while others are more likely to move around all day. As your pregnancy progresses, you should be able to determine what is normal and abnormal for your baby. At around the 28-week mark, you should have a good gauge of what is normal for your baby. Should I monitor the kicks and movement? Some physicians recommend you monitor your baby’s movements starting around 28 weeks. The main reason for this is to help you determine if your baby is in distress or not. If a baby is in distress they will be less likely to move around, and their heartbeat may decrease. Your physician may want you to monitor your baby’s movement so that you can more quickly determine if anything is happening. This practice of counting kicks is becoming outdated, but if it helps you feel more at ease try it. In general, the standard is that your baby should move at least 10 times in two hours. What if the baby isn’t moving? There are a few different reasons that the baby may not be moving. If you have yet to reach the 25-week mark you may not be able to determine if the baby is moving. Similarly, if you have reached the 25-week mark, but are having trouble determining if the baby is moving wait a bit. As the baby grows larger, the feeling of its movement will be more distinctive and stronger. If you have grown accustomed to your baby’s movement, but you have not felt anything for a few hours don’t panic. Sometimes your baby is just asleep or they are just not very active during that time of the day. However, if your baby is typically active at night and they suddenly aren’t moving at night don’t be afraid to contact your physician. If your baby is moving less than normal, or you don’t feel 10 movements in a 2 hour period, try reaching out to your physician. They will be able to monitor your baby’s heartbeat and check on them to ensure everything is ok. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them multiple times throughout your pregnancy. The physician is there to help put you at ease and make sure your baby is healthy and happy. You always want to catch any problems early on in the pregnancy, so it is better to be safe than sorry. Key Takeaways You will likely begin to feel your baby move around the 18-22 week mark. As the pregnancy progresses you will become more attuned to your baby’s movements and be able to determine their normal and abnormal. You can try counting kicks to help you monitor your baby’s movements, and you should always contact your physician if something seems off. Pregnancy is hard, and postpartum recovery can be a long painful journey. Make it easier with Bellefit’s postpartum garments. Bellefit has comfortable underwear, nursing bras, and postpartum girdles to make your postpartum journey easy and pain-free. Don’t suffer through the pain alone, invest in a Bellefit postpartum girdle today.

As you progress in your pregnancy, you may end up feeling a little sore and stiff. The best way to avoid this, as well as other pregnancy pain, is to do some stretching. However, not all stretches are safe or beneficial. In this article, we discuss why stretching is important, safety measures, stretches to avoid, and the best stretches during pregnancy. Why stretching is important Your growing belly is one of the many things you have to contend with during pregnancy. Sleepless nights, back pain, and swollen feet are just a few other symptoms that you will have to deal with during your pregnancy. Thankfully, joint pain and back pain don’t have to become overwhelming. Stretching throughout your pregnancy can help your muscles stay loose and allow you to have a more comfortable pregnancy. Daily stretching during your pregnancy can help to ease common pregnancy pains, backaches and hip pain, and it can help tone your muscles and relax them. Not only can this make delivery smoother and help you experience less pain, but it also helps you recover faster. During pregnancy, your body produces a hormone called relaxin. This hormone allows your body to relax and for your ligaments to loosen during the delivery process. This hormone also makes it easier to overstretch. That is why it is important that you take safety measures while you are stretching. Safety Measures Before you take part in any exercise it is always a good idea to check with your physician first. They will have access to your medical history and will be able to more accurately tell you what is ok and what is not ok. In general, there are a few safety measures that you should take while you are stretching during pregnancy. Warm-Up: Stretching before your body has had a chance to warm up is never a good idea. Don’t push your body too hard, but a good brisk walk around the neighborhood should be sufficient. Don’t Bounce: Many people like to bounce while they stretch, however this can cause more harm to your muscles. Instead, remain in the stretched position for 20-30 seconds. Move slowly: Slow and steady wins the race. You are at a higher risk of injury if you move quickly and roughly. The best way to decrease your chance of injury is by moving slowly and gently. That way, you will be able to determine if your body can handle certain positions or not. Similarly, it will prevent you from overextending your muscles and ligaments. Don’t overdo it: Sometimes you really want to get in a good stretch, but this can cause injury without you even realizing it. Take it nice and slow and stop as soon as you feel pain. You should be able to feel your muscles stretch, but if it feels painful at any point, stop. Use proper form: Make sure you are completing the stretches properly. If you are not using the correct form you can end up hurting yourself. Stretches to Avoid Stretching during pregnancy is a great way to strengthen your muscles, however not all stretches are equal. Because of your changing body, there are some stretches that you will want to avoid while you are pregnant. Stretches that involve balance: While this may not be a problem early on in your pregnancy, your balance is going to be off later on. With a growing belly, your center of gravity is going to shift. This means that anything involving balance includes an increased risk of injury. Avoid any stretches that require you to balance on one leg or use your balance. Stretches on your back: There is a vein that runs along the base of your back. This vein supplies blood to your uterus. If there is too much pressure for an extended amount of time on this vein, it can cut off your baby’s circulation. Therefore, any stretches that require you to lie on your back for an extended amount of time (more than 2 minutes) should be avoided. Stretches on your stomach: It may seem like a no-brainer, but try not to lie on your stomach while pregnant. The main reason for this is because it is uncomfortable. Imagine lying down on a basketball, it would hurt. You don’t want to injure yourself, so avoid lying on your stomach to stretch. Twisting Stretches: Any stretches that include a lot of twisting (at the hips or the waist) can also cut off circulation to your baby. Avoid any exercises that require you to twist. Intense Abdominal Exercises: While you will want to do a few abdominal exercises, you don’t want to do any that require a lot of you. You need to strengthen your abdominal muscles during your pregnancy so you can avoid diastasis recti; but, you also need to be careful to not damage them as well. Any sort of crunch, sit up, or boat stretches are not the best while you are pregnant. Best Stretches During Pregnancy Now that you know the safety measures and the types of stretches to avoid, let’s talk about the best stretches during pregnancy. Cat-Cow The cat-cow pose is one of the best stretches during pregnancy because it stretches the spine, arms, abdomen, and back. The stretch helps to decrease lower back pain and hip pain. In order to complete this stretch, you will need a yoga mat. On the yoga mat get onto your hands and knees. Ensure that your knees are in line with your hips and that your wrists are in line with your shoulders As you inhale, drop your belly toward the floor arching your back into a ‘U’. Bring your face so that you are looking upward. As you exhale, bring your belly back up and arch your back. Bring your face towards your chest, looking down at the floor. Child’s Pose The child’s pose stretches the hips, thighs, and butt. It is also a good stretch to ease lower back pain. For this stretch, you will need a yoga mat. On the yoga mat get onto your hands and knees. Ensure that your knees are in line with your hips and that your wrists are in line with your shoulders. Next, rock your hips back until your butt is resting on the heels of your feet. Ensure that your chin is tucked in toward your chest and that your arms remain outstretched. Bridge The bridge pose is one of the best stretches during pregnancy because it helps strengthen your hips, lower back, and abdominal muscles. For this pose, you will need a yoga mat. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat against the floor. Bring your hips upward by pressing your weight into your feet. Hold this for a few seconds before bringing your hips back down and resting. Lunge This stretch is best for the hips and the butt. Rest on your knees Bring one leg up so that one knee bent into a 90-degree angle with your foot resting on the floor. Lean forward and so that your weight is pressed onto your foot. Hold the pose for 30 seconds (use a wall if extra balance is needed) Switch feet and repeat. Key Takeaways Stretching can help minimize the pain associated with pregnancy. Daily stretches during pregnancy are a good idea to strengthen your core muscles and prepare for childbirth. Not only can stretching help prepare your body for childbirth, but it can also help you recover faster. Stretching can help prevent diastasis recti, but if that still doesn’t work you can always invest in a Bellefit postpartum girdle. Postpartum girdles provide medical-grade compression to your abdomen and help your muscles come back together as the relaxin in your body decreases. Heal faster and better, with a Bellefit postpartum girdle.

When you first discover that you are pregnant you start to prepare for all the changes that are going to occur. Your belly will start to get bigger, your ankles may swell, your hair may get thicker, but what many mothers forget to mention is the mental changes. In addition to all of the physical changes you can expect when you’re pregnant, you will also begin to change mentally. Maybe you have already noticed it. You temporarily forget your birthday, your can’t remember why you walked into a room, you accidentally leave something in the oven, and my personal favorite--putting the milk in the cupboard and the cereal in the fridge. “Pregnancy brain,” or “mommy brain,” is a real thing that many women experience during their pregnancy. In this article, we explore what pregnancy brain is, why it happens, and how to combat its effects. What is pregnancy brain? And Is it real? When a woman becomes pregnant she may begin to notice changes in her cognitive functioning. Perhaps she struggles to remember things, can’t focus, or can’t pay attention to something for an extended period of time. This is referred to as pregnancy brain. “Pregnancy brain” shows up around the first trimester of pregnancy and stays until a few months postpartum. Pregnancy brain a real struggle and it can be very frustrating. Knowing what causes pregnancy brain and how to combat it can make the dilemma feel more manageable. Why does pregnancy brain happen? There is a variety of compounding factors that occur when you become pregnant that can cause pregnancy brain. These factors include hormones, lack of sleep, and stress. While there is little conclusion about what exactly causes pregnancy brain, research has shown that there is a change in cognitive functions when a woman becomes pregnant. There are many theories about what causes pregnancy brain. Hormones, lack of sleep, and stress are some of these but there have been no conclusive studies. Hormones As with almost every other change during pregnancy, it is likely you can blame your pregnancy brain on hormones. When you become pregnant your body’s hormone levels are changing rapidly and frequently. Hormone changes influence your ability to recall things and focus. In a 2014 study, researchers discovered a correlation between pregnancy and Spacial Recognition Memory. Spacial Recognition Memory is your brain’s ability to remember where things are located in relation to one another. For example, when you set your phone down on the couch, your brain should store that information away for you to remember later. However, when you are pregnant, your brain loses this ability. This means that you forget where your phone is, almost as soon as you set it down. So, when you are late for an appointment because you can’t find your keys, just remember to blame the hormones. Lack of Sleep In addition to your hormones, your changing body can cause a lot of physical discomforts. This discomfort can make it very hard for you to go to sleep at night and stay asleep. In addition, other pregnancy symptoms such as heartburn, restless legs, and nausea can make it difficult for a woman to go to sleep and stay asleep. Later on, once your baby is born, you may also have fitful nights of sleep as your baby can wake you up in the middle of the night. Sleep deprivation has a large impact on your short term and long term memory. Sleep deprivation and pregnancy brain have many of the same symptoms. Stress Stress can cause you to forget a lot of things. Your brain hyper-focuses on things that you are stressed about. With a new baby coming into your life, there are many things that your brain may be stressing about. Doctor appointments, baby preparations, and worries about childbirth can take too much of your attention away from everything else. This can make it difficult to remember small things, such as what you came into the room to do. How to combat pregnancy brain Now that you know what causes pregnancy brain you are better prepared to work against it. While many of the things that cause pregnancy brain cannot be changed, you can work against the symptoms. So, what are some of the things you can do to help combat pregnancy brain? Get as much sleep as you can. It may seem impossible and elusive, but sleep is incredibly important. If you have a hard time going to sleep try to meditate or do things to relax before you go to bed. Make your bed as comfortable as possible and if you need to take a nap during the day. Sleep allows your brain to form short term memory into long term memory, if you don’t have enough you may end up forgetting things. Maintain a healthy and well-rounded diet. Food is an essential part of your brain’s ability to function. Your body, and your brain, need certain nutrients in order to function properly. Make sure you are maintaining a healthy and well-rounded diet so that you can combat pregnancy brain. Set reminders/Make lists. Make it easier for your brain by writing things down and setting reminders for yourself. If you need to take the trash out at 8AM, set a reminder for yourself on your phone. That way you will remember and you will not rely on your brain to file away that short-term information. Similarly, if there are things that you need to complete throughout the day, make sure you write yourself a list. That way you can write it down and forget about it until you need to check it. Play brain games. An essential part of remembering information and having a strong short term memory is through practice. You don’t sit on the couch and then go run a marathon one day, you have to practice and strengthen your muscles. Your brain is the same way, you need to strengthen the neural pathways so that you can remember things when it becomes difficult. Playing brain games such as Soduko or doing crosswords can help strengthen those pathways. Apps such as Lumosity, Elevate, and Impulse can also help you do these things with fun interactive games. Key Takeaways Pregnancy brain is a real problem that many pregnant women deal with. It is characterized by difficulty remembering things, an inability to focus, and not being able to concentrate. Pregnancy brain can be caused by hormones, lack of sleep, and even stress. In order to combat pregnancy brain, you can get as much sleep as possible, eat well, set reminders, make lists, and play brain games. Pregnancy brain can become worse once the baby is born. In your first few months postpartum your body is trying to heal but a lack of sleep and the stress of having a newborn can make it difficult. Invest in yourself and get over your pregnancy brain faster by investing in a Bellefit postpartum girdle. Postpartum girdles are designed to offer medical-grade compression and ease the pain from labor and birth. They are ideal for women who have had a C-section or women who have had a vaginal birth. By easing your pain, postpartum girdles make it easier for you to recover quickly and spend time with your newborn. Thankfully, pregnancy brain typically only lasts during pregnancy and for a few months afterward. It is a completely normal experience for pregnant women and while it can be frustrating, it should not be a cause for concern.