All these years, it has been you and your kitty.  Now, you find yourself expecting a new bundle of joy, and people keep telling you that you need to get rid of your cat. For eons, there has been a lot of misinformation being spread around the prenatal world making woman fearful that owning a cat while pregnant could cause them to miscarry, or give birth to a baby with birth defects.

So, what is the real scoop?  Do you have to ditch the kitty in order to protect you and your baby from toxoplasmosis?

The answer is a resounding no. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that is mostly caused by eating raw or undercooked infected meat, but you can also get the parasite by eating unwashed contaminated produce, drinking contaminated water, or handling contaminated soil, cat litter, or meat and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. It is also caused from coming in contact with the feces from a cat. And unfortunately, since cat feces is often the culprit, many pregnant women are encouraged to get rid of their cats during pregnancy.

In a normal, healthy un-pregnant person, the symptoms of this illness normally go unnoticed. However, during pregnancy – there is a risk that becoming infected can also infect the placenta and your unborn baby, causing birth defects and even stillbirth. According to the CDC, in the United States it is estimated that only around 1% of all babies born are infected with toxoplasmosis. More importantly however – you don’t have to get rid of your cat simply because you are pregnant.

If you have a cat and are pregnant, then you need to take some basic precautions. First and foremost is to wash your hands after you touch your cat, and MOST IMPORTANTLY is to leave the cleaning of the litter box to someone else in the family while you are pregnant. The litter box should be cleaned DAILY because the parasite that causing toxoplasmosis can live in cat litter for months, and the litter remains should be taken outside of the house. The person cleaning the litter box should use gloves and should also wash their hands afterwards. Additionally, avoid giving your cat any undercooked or raw meats and stick to commercial cat foods. If your cat likes to hunt down prey outdoors, this risk of them contracting toxoplasmosis is higher (but you will not likely know they have it) – so you should try to handle your cat as little as possible.

It is also in your best interest to avoid kittens or cats that you don’t know while you are pregnant.

As mentioned earlier, your cat is not the only source of toxoplasmosis. In fact, you are more likely to get it from eating undercooked meats than you are to get it from your cat. This is just one reason why health care professionals advise pregnant woman to avoid raw eggs, unpasteurized dairy products and smoked or salt-cured meats like salami during pregnancy.

All in all, you shouldn’t let fear make you get rid of your beloved pet. This risk of infection, especially if you are armed with the right information and take careful precautions, is very low. While you may have to be careful around your cat before and during your pregnancy – it is still okay to own a cat.

Written By Stef, Mother of 4 @MOM-SPIRATIONAL

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Pregnancy is definitely one of the most amazing times in a woman’s life. Not only are you finally acquainted with just how powerful your female body is, but you are also in a constant state of hopeful dreaming about what the future will be like when your baby arrives.

The first trimester can also be a confusing time for a pregnant woman. One moment you may feel so attuned to the various changes in your body that you are aware of every little ache, pain and twinge – and at other times, you may feel on the brink of disbelief that you are truly pregnant because you don’t feel (or look) very much different than you did prior to conception. Add some hormones to the mix, and you have a recipe for anxiousness that can lead you to worry about every little thing.

For thousands of women, spotting during pregnancy causes them to worry excessively about their pregnancy and sends them scouring the Internet for answers to the question, “Is spotting during pregnancy normal?”

According to major online medical sources such as WebMD and LiveStrong – spotting during pregnancy isn’t necessarily something to be alarmed about and occurs in around 20-30% of all pregnancies during the first trimester. In fact, many women may have what they think is an irregular period, or spotting after conception when the embryo embeds into the uterine lining (called implantation), which can cause bleeding and discomfort often likened to a ‘light period.’

This first trimester spotting can be caused by a variety of reasons such as implantation, infection, hormonal changes, and cervical sensitivity due to increased blood flow. (Such as after intercourse) If you do experience spotting, you should make sure that you wear a pad (nothing should be inserted into the vagina), lie down and rest, make sure that you drink extra fluids and give your health care provider a call. Chances are they will just tell you take it easy for a few days.  If you are past the 10 week mark, they may schedule you for an appointment to come in and see if the heartbeat can be picked up by a Doppler device, or for an early ultrasound. However, as long as you don’t experience heavy bleeding, the passing of a lot of tissue and severe cramping, your bleeding could be inconsequential. That being said, if any of those latter symptoms DO occur, you should call your doctor immediately or go to your nearest ER.

As the pregnancy progresses into the 2nd and 3rd trimester – spotting becomes something more to worry about.  The American Pregnancy Association recommends that any woman spotting in late pregnancy visit a physician immediately to check for medical conditions that could threaten the pregnancy. Conditions such as placenta previa, vasa previa, placental or uterine abruption, or even early labor could be the underlying cause.

The most important thing to remember is that pregnancy is different for every woman. Some women spot. Others don’t. Personally speaking, I spotted with one pregnancy from the first trimester through the second trimester and had no spotting at all during my other two pregnancies. While the fear of miscarriage is likely not far from the front of your mind, you will feel better if you can learn to relax and enjoy your pregnancy as much as possible. Listen to your intuition and never be afraid to contact your health care provider if you are worried about something, as that is exactly why you have them.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Mom-Spirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

A sign is an objective evidence of a condition that people can see on a patient. It can be inspected by the eyes or measured by laboratory equipment. A sign is more or less definitive and obvious. So, when you say signs of pregnancy, they refer to the objective findings perceived by an examiner and not the mother. However, many signs are usually accompanied by symptoms. Here are first pregnancy signs that indicate impending motherhood.

1. Spotting

One of the first pregnancy signs may be implantation bleeding. It is characterized by a slight staining of a pink to brown colour, caused by the implantation of the egg in the endometrial lining. About 6-12 days after conception, the embryo implants itself in the uterine wall. It is usually accompanied by cramping. Some women experience spotting, but others do not.

2. Darkening of the areolas

If the skin around your nipples gets darker, it may be a sign of pregnancy. However, this can also be a sign of a hormonal imbalance and might not be related to pregnancy.

3. Frequent urination

Around 6-8 weeks after conception, you may experience frequent visits to the bathroom. Although this may be caused by diabetes, diuretics, or a urinary tract infection (UTI), it is most likely due to increased human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels when you are pregnant. hCG increased blood flow to your kidneys, helping them to cleanse your body. Your growing uterus is also starting to put pressure on your bladder, leaving less storage for urine and leading to frequent urination.

4. Positive pregnancy test

If you have a positive result showing up on your pregnancy test, you are most likely pregnant. Make an appointment with your doctor to confirm the good news and prepare for motherhood.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

It’s a simple fact of life that not all pregnancies are planned. For some, seeing the positive test is not necessarily a time for celebration. In fact, some women may find this moment devastating. You may consider yourself too young to have a baby, or perhaps you feel your family is already complete. It could be relationship problems or financial insecurity causing you to worry about the timing of the pregnancy.

Once you have decided to progress with the pregnancy, it doesn’t mean you will feel any less shocked, or that you will all of a sudden feel 100 percent happy about the pregnancy. Even women who have tried for years to fall pregnant can experience feelings of regret during the pregnancy.

Unplanned doesn’t mean unloved

Some women experiencing unplanned pregnancies report feelings of guilt and shame around their pregnancy. It is crucial to remember that unplanned doesn’t mean unloved. Your pregnancy may have been unplanned, but that doesn’t mean you will be any less able to love your baby.

Talk about your feelings

During pregnancy, the hormonal changes, fatigue and worry over what is to come, can feel overwhelming. It’s important to talk about how you are feeling – your worries, concerns and even regrets. It is important you find a trusted person to talk to, whether that be your partner, best friend, or a support service. Do not feel ashamed of your feelings, it is completely natural to have mixed feelings about an unplanned pregnancy, and talking about it may help you to deal with these emotions.

Find support

All new parents require a strong support system, whether the pregnancy was planned or not. Having a baby is a big life change, and you will need help, especially in the early days. This support could be in the form of help with the baby or around the home, or it could be a friendly ear on tough days. Make sure you have a support system in place, and let them know in advance that you might call on them for help when the baby arrives.

Financial planning

One of the main worries for women carrying unplanned pregnancies, is the financial aspect of parenting. If you weren’t planning to have a baby just yet, chances are you haven’t got lots of money to go and blow in a baby store. As soon as possible, you should sit down and work out your finances. Speak to your employer, student services or a family planning clinic, to find out about your access to financial help. Will you qualify for maternity leave, or receive some other benefits once the baby arrives?

Planning for the future

If you’re young, and worried that having a baby will prevent you from doing certain things in life, write a to do list. Fill it with all the things you’d like to do, and all the places you want to visit in your life. Once you’ve got your list, you can start working towards things. Having a baby doesn’t mean your life is over. It may take you a little longer to achieve things now, but it doesn’t mean you have to cross them off your list for good.

Most importantly, let go of the guilt. Do not feel guilty for having an unplanned pregnancy You will still be a great mother.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Around 7 days after fertilization, the ‘blastocyst’ which will eventually develop into your fetus, will implant itself into the soft and warm walls of the uterus. Due to the lovely influx of hormones, your uterus is ‘sticky’ and receptive to the implantation process. You may or may not know at this point that you are pregnant, because you haven’t quite missed your period yet. This implantation is what will spark the production of massive amount of pregnancy hormones that signal your body not to shed its lining (menstruate) and start the process of pregnancy.

When implantation occurs, you may feel some tinges of pain. In fact, during this phase of pregnancy, you may feel like you are on the verge of getting your period, experiencing the same symptoms that you do during PMS.  Your breasts may hurt, you may have cramping, and you may even have slight amounts of blood that are a result from the implantation process. If you know your body very well, and are paying attention – you will likely KNOW that something is going on. Most women just assume that they are not pregnant and are about to get their period, only to find out a few weeks later that all those cramps and tinges of blood was the baby nestling into the uterus.

Amazingly, behind the scenes and even before you may know that you are pregnant – the placenta is already starting to develop and cells are multiplying at phenomenal rates. If you have been trying to conceive, you may be eager to take a home pregnancy test, but really you should wait. At this point, the chances of getting a false negative are still very high considering the levels of hCG (the pregnancy hormone) are only starting to increase. (They double daily once implantation is complete)

The best time to take an over-the-counter pregnancy test is on the day that you expect your period. By this time, there is likely enough hCG in your system to register during your first morning urine. And, if you have experienced some light bleeding or cramping (which may have you confused about whether you are pregnant or not), there is no need to worry. You now know that it was just due to implantation. You may even experience some slight spotting during the same time as your period is due, which is normal in many women. If it continues or gets heavier, consult with your health care provider.

The amazing thing about this whole process is that it is practically invisible unless you had a powerful microscope. An amazing and beautiful reminder of just how awesome your body is.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Years ago, women were forbidden from eating certain fish and seafood during pregnancy. The issue was due to the high levels of mercury in some fish products. In fact, the news was so widely spread and largely misunderstood that many women halted their consumption of fish and seafood altogether.

Today, for many people living health conscious lives, fish is a common main meal ingredient. In order to help clear up any confusion in regard to eating fish in pregnancy, read on…

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises pregnant women, or women trying to conceive, to eat no more than 12 ounces of fish per week. To make this easier, fish such as tuna, or fish fillets should be eaten no more than twice per week. The FDA also recommends that pregnant women, or those trying to conceive, eat shrimp, salmon, pollock, and catfish while avoiding swordfish, shark, tilefish, and king mackerel due to their higher potential mercury levels. Albacore tuna and tuna steaks have more mercury than chunk light tuna in a pouch or can, but if you limit yourself to about one serving of either per week, you should be fine, according to the FDA. Most physicians also agree that shellfish, such as oysters, should only be eaten in season, although crabs, lobster, clams, scallops, and oysters have very low levels of mercury compared to other grocery market fish.

Their high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids make fish and seafood one of the ultimate super foods of pregnancy. Not only are they good for you, but they are also good for your growing baby. In fact research has proven that these essential fatty acids can help to prevent preeclampsia, preterm labor, and help to increase your baby’s cognitive development. Additionally, pregnant women who maintain good levels of Omega-3s are less likely to suffer from postpartum depression. The good news is that you can get these fatty acids without consuming fish by taking supplements. Before buying one over-the-counter, talk to your physician. In fact, today many prenatal supplements come fortified with Omega-3 fatty acids. You can also take fish oil capsules available from most drug stores or herb shops. Just remember to speak with your healthcare provider before taking any medications or supplements.

If you aren’t a fan of fish, but want the health benefits of the fatty acids contained in fish, look for fish oil supplements, or other foods such as Omega-3 vegetarian eggs, to add to your well balanced diet. But, if you love fish, and are limiting your intake to twice per week or no more than 12 ounces per week – you should have nothing to worry about when eating fish in pregnancy.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

It may be a missed period or sudden rush of nausea in the morning that pushes you to buy a pregnancy test. When you see those two pink lines, you’ll need a moment to let it sink in. Congratulations, you’re pregnant! Pregnancy is one of the most significant times in a woman’s life. It is a time of change and new beginnings. It is also a time of reflection and planning as a new parent.

After the reality of pregnancy has set in, and you’ve experienced a range of emotions, from excitement to shock, you’ll want to start planning. The best thing to do is to get proactive and start working towards a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. By contacting your doctor or midwife, exercising safely, and enjoying a well-balanced diet, you will be well on your way to having a fun-filled nine months and a gorgeous baby at the end of it.

First Things First: Doctor or Midwife?

If you haven’t already thought about it, you’ll want to decide whether you want to be treated by an obstetrician gynecologist (ob-gyn) or a certified midwife. Choosing who to take care of you and your baby during pregnancy is a very personal matter and is a decision you should be completely comfortable with. Relying on your medical history or personal beliefs can help make the most appropriate choice for you.

Avoid Harmful Habits

Your lifestyle has to change when pregnant, whether you like it or not. Things that can be potentially harmful to you and your baby should be avoided such as, smoking cigarettes, taking narcotics, drinking alcohol, consuming too much caffeine, and eating certain foods. You’ll also want to avoid heavy lifting or activities that are too strenuous. If you continue to exercise, make sure it is safe and not too intense. Face it, you will lose a certain amount of mobility after being pregnant!

Eating Right

When you become pregnant, your body starts changing and directing most nutrients and minerals to your baby to help him or her grow. It is necessary for you to replenish your supply and take in more vitamins and nutrients when pregnant. You will need to increase the intake of calcium, folic acid, iron, etc. Prenatal vitamins along with a balanced diet can help you remain healthy throughout your pregnancy and ensure your baby gets the nutrients he or she needs.

Stress-free Preparation

Always remember to stay calm and breathe when pregnant. It is a time of change and can be scary, with appointments to remember, a nursery to set up, a baby App to read every day, etc. So it is important to take things step by step. Buy a planner and write things down so you don’t forget appointments or to buy specific baby items. A great way to stay organized is by downloading our app on your phone so that you are up-to-speed when on the go. Help yourself stay organized and you’ll be well on your way.

If you have any tips on how to stay organized during pregnancy, let us know what they are.

Written by Manal, first time mom

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.