LoginSign UpGet PreparedHow it WorksAbout UsBlogContact UsGet PreparedHow it WorksAbout UsBlogContact UsHow Prepared Are You for a Healthy Pregnancy?Take the babyQ Survey to:- Optimize Weight Gain- Reduce Risks of Complications- Manage StressGet Started TodayAug270Pelvic Discomfort  Posted by Dr. Mark Gostine | Symptoms & Remedies | No CommentsThere are many sources of pelvic discomfort during pregnancy.  Your pelvis is expanding in preparation for delivery.  Your hormones make your ligaments more elastic, bones in the pelvis will separate more easily allowing the passage of the baby’s head and body.  However, this means you may experience sacroiliac joint dysfunction more readily and that can be a source of pelvic pain.  Also, pregnancy is frequently troubled by constipation.  The bloating can make you feel uncomfortable.  The baby’s head pressing on your bladder can also make you feel a sense of unease. You can help relieve constipation by drinking more fluids and eating a higher fiber diet.  If the bladder is the source of pain, make sure you urinate frequently, on schedule, perhaps every two hours, to keep your bladder relatively empty.   Unfortunately, there is very little you can do about the separation of pelvic bones during pregnancy until after…Read MoreAug260Don’t lose sleep over that.  Posted by Dr. Mark Gostine | LENS, Lifestyle, Pregnancy Health, Symptoms & Remedies | No Comments“Don’t lose sleep over that”, is common advice for a good reason.  Sleep deprivation has emerged as a significant risk factor for many diseases, from diabetes to high blood pressure and heart attacks.  How about pregnancy?   What are the causes and consequences for mother and baby, and what are the solutions? There are many reasons for lack of sleep during pregnancy. The most common are: Discomfort and pain Snoring, more common in overweight women and over the age of 35 Excessive caffeine consumption in coffee, soda and energy drinks Fluid retention during daily activities causing excessive nighttime urination Restless legs syndrome (RLS) Rhinitis and sinusitis Physicians now realize that sleep loss is a significant risk factor for many diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes.  Poor sleep during pregnancy has been associated with: Pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure Gestational diabetes Excessive weight gain Mood disorders including postpartum depression How to…Read MoreAug260PFCs and Obesity  Posted by emily | LENS, Nutrition, Pregnancy Lifestyle | No CommentsA new study conducted at Emory University found that babies born to women exposed to polyfluoroalkyl compounds have a greater risk of obesity.  Polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) are chemicals commonly found in plastics, non-stick cookware, and stain-protecting solutions.   The study found that babies born to mothers who had high exposure to PFCs were smaller at birth, but gained weigh more rapidly after birth.  This is a bad combination because the rapid, overcompensati