Mommy 101

What are stretch marks? Stretch marks affect about 8 out of 10 pregnant women. A stretch mark is a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly. The abrupt change causes the collagen and elastin, which support our skin, to rupture. As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear. What causes stretch marks? During pregnancy your hormones can soften the fibres of your skin, making it more prone to stretch marks. You may get stretch marks on your tummy as…

  WHAT IS BAD PARENTING?The definition of bad parenting is not a single act of poor nurturing but rather a series of such actions that invariably harm the little one’s demeanor and psychology. A parent may feel guilty and will try to reconcile, but it often yields poor results. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF BAD PARENTING?Several parenting incidences point towards being a bad parent. Here are some unintentional things you could be doing to fit the label of being a bad mother or father:…

Their first poop doesn’t stink. The black, tar-like stuff called meconium is made up of mucus, fluid from the womb, and anything else they digested while inside mom. But it doesn’t yet have the gut bacteria that make poop smelly. As soon as you start feeding a baby, bacteria will start colonizing their intestines. After a day or so, bowel movements become green, yellow, or brown — with that familiar odor. Sometimes infants stop breathing. Likely when they’re sleeping, they may pause without a…

Here are nine reasons why pregnancy sex is not only healthy, but why it might be even better than before. 1. An easier labor and recoveryHaving an orgasm increases the contractions in your pelvic floor, which help to strengthen the muscles you’ll need for labor and after delivery. “Once you’ve pushed your baby through those muscles, they’ll have an easier time strengthening up,” said Jeanne Faulkner, a registered nurse in Portland, Oregon and author of “Common Sense Pregnancy: Navigating a Healthy Pregnancy and Birth…

Diet and nutrition are important for pregnant women. Throughout their pregnancy, women are given recommendations of food to eat while pregnant and foods to avoid. Although fruit is part of a good balanced diet, certain fruits —including papaya —pregnant women are told to avoid include: Grapes. There are various opinions about grapes and pregnancy based on the resveratrol in grapes and the difficulty in digesting grape skins. Pineapple. There’s an opinion that pineapple may cause miscarriage, but this isn’t backed by scientific evidence. Should…

Eating a balanced diet during pregnancy is important for the health of you and your baby, and eating healthy, nutritious foods now will help your baby be more open to them when they start solids after 6 months. Eating smaller meals more frequently is a good rule to follow, especially if you are experiencing morning sickness or heartburn. What to avoid eating when pregnant: Soft cheese, such as Brie and Camembert (these can contain the dangerous bacteria listeria) and unpasteurized milk and juices Deli…