Monday 4 July 2011
Baby Birth Video (SFW)
We shot some footage on the day of the birth of our adorable baby boy, Owen, on Saturday, July 24th. You can read more on our blog at
Source: thisplaceisnowahome.wordpress.com
Via Youtube
Source: thisplaceisnowahome.wordpress.com
Via Youtube
Exercising During Pregnancy
Source: Kids Health
Although you may not feel like running a marathon, most women benefit greatly from exercising throughout their pregnancies. But during that time, you'll need to discuss your exercise plans with your doctor or other health care provider early on and make a few adjustments to your normal exercise routine. The level of exercise recommended will depend, in part, on your level of pre-pregnancy fitness.
Benefits of Exercising During Pregnancy
No doubt about it, exercise is a big plus for both you and your baby (if complications don't limit your ability to exercise throughout your pregnancy). It can help you:
Feel Better. At a time when you wonder if this strange body can possibly be yours, exercise can increase your sense of control and boost your energy level. Not only does it make you feel better by releasing endorphins (naturally occurring chemicals in your brain), appropriate exercise can:
relieve backaches and improve your posture by strengthening and toning muscles in your back, butt, and thighs
reduce constipation by accelerating movement in your intestine
prevent wear and tear on your joints (which become loosened during pregnancy due to normal hormonal changes) by activating the lubricating fluid in your joints
help you sleep better by relieving the stress and anxiety that might make you restless at night
Look Better. Exercise increases the blood flow to your skin, giving you a healthy glow.
Prepare you and your body for birth. Strong muscles and a fit heart can greatly ease labor and delivery. Gaining control over your breathing can help you manage pain. And in the event of a lengthy labor, increased endurance can be a real help.
Regain your pre-pregnancy body more quickly. You'll gain less fat weight during your pregnancy if you continue to exercise (assuming you exercised before becoming pregnant). But don't expect or try to lose weight by exercising while you're pregnant. For most women, the goal is to maintain their fitness level throughout pregnancy.
While the jury's still out on the additional benefits of exercise during pregnancy, some studies have shown that exercise may even lower a woman's risk of complications, like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.
What's Safe During Pregnancy?
It depends on when you start and whether your pregnancy is complicated. If you exercised regularly before becoming pregnant, continue your program, with modifications as you need them.
If you weren't fit before you became pregnant, don't give up! Begin slowly and build gradually as you become stronger. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes (that's 2½ hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week for healthy women who are not already highly active or doing vigorous-intensity activity.
If you're healthy, the risks of moderate-intensity activity during pregnancy are very low, and do not increase risk of low birth weight, preterm delivery, or early pregnancy loss.
Before you continue your old exercise routine or begin a new one, you should talk to your doctor about exercising while you're pregnant. Discuss any concerns you may have and know that you might need to limit your exercise if you have:
pregnancy-induced high blood pressure
early contractions
vaginal bleeding
premature rupture of your membranes, also known as your water (the fluid in the amniotic sac around the fetus) breaking early
Exercises to Try
That depends on what interests you and what your doctor advises. Many women enjoy dancing, swimming, water aerobics, yoga, Pilates, biking, or walking. Swimming is especially appealing, as it gives you welcome buoyancy (floatability or the feeling of weightlessness). Try for a combination of cardio (aerobic), strength, and flexibility exercises, and avoid bouncing.
Many experts recommend walking. It's easy to vary the pace, add hills, and add distance. If you're just starting, begin with a moderately brisk pace for a mile, 3 days a week. Add a couple of minutes every week, pick up the pace a bit, and eventually add hills to your route. Whether you're a pro or a novice, go slowly for the first 5 minutes to warm up and use the last 5 minutes to cool down.
If you were a runner before you were pregnant, you might be able to continue running during your pregnancy, although you may have to modify your routine.
Whatever type of exercise you and your doctor decide on, the key is to listen to your body's warnings. Many women, for example, become dizzy early in their pregnancy, and as the baby grows, their center of gravity changes. So it may be easy for you to lose your balance, especially in the last trimester.
Your energy level might vary greatly from day to day. And as your baby grows and pushes up on your lungs, you'll notice a decreased ability to breathe in more air (and the oxygen it contains) when you exercise. If your body says, "Stop!" — stop!
Your body is signaling that it's had enough if you feel:
fatigue
dizziness
heart palpitations (your heart pounding in your chest)
shortness of breath
pain in your back or pelvis
And if you can't talk while you're exercising, you're doing it too strenuously.
It also isn't good for your baby if you become overheated because temperatures greater than 102.6° F (39° C) could cause problems with the developing fetus — especially in the first trimester — which can potentially lead to birth defects. So don't overdo exercise on hot days.
When the weather is hot, avoid exercising outside during the hottest part of the day (from about 10 AM to 3 PM) or try to exercise in an air-conditioned place. Also remember that swimming makes it more difficult for you to notice your body heating up because the water makes you feel cooler.
Exercises to Avoid
Most doctors recommend that pregnant women avoid exercises after the first trimester that require them to lie flat on their backs.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it's also wise to avoid any activities that include:
bouncing
jarring (anything that would cause a lot of up and down movement)
leaping
a sudden change of direction
a risk of abdominal injury
Typical limitations include contact sports, downhill skiing, scuba diving, and horseback riding because of the risk of injury they pose.
Although some doctors say step aerobics workouts are acceptable if you can lower the height of your step as your pregnancy progresses, others caution that a changing center of gravity makes falls much more likely. If you do choose to do aerobics, just make sure to avoid becoming extremely winded or exercising to the point of exhaustion.
And check with your doctor if you experience any of these warning signs during any type of exercise:
vaginal bleeding
unusual pain
dizziness or lightheadedness
unusual shortness of breath
racing heartbeat or chest pain
fluid leaking from your vagina
uterine contractions
Kegel Exercises
Although the effects of Kegel exercises can't be seen from the outside, some women use them to reduce incontinence (the leakage of urine) caused by the weight of the baby on their bladder. Kegels help to strengthen the "pelvic floor muscles" (the muscles that aid in controlling urination).
Kegels are easy, and you can do them any time you have a few seconds — sitting in your car, at your desk, or standing in line at the store. No one will even know you're doing them!
To find the correct muscles, pretend you're trying to stop urinating. Squeeze those muscles for a few seconds, then relax. You're using the correct muscles if you feel a pull. Or place a finger inside your vagina and feel it tighten when you squeeze. Your doctor can also help you identify the correct muscles.
A few things to keep in mind when you're doing Kegel exercises:
Don't tighten other muscles (stomach or legs, for example) at the same time. You want to focus on the muscles you're exercising.
Don't hold your breath while you do them because it's important that your body and muscles continue to receive oxygen while you do any type of exercise.
Don't regularly do Kegels by stopping and starting your flow of urine while you're actually going to the bathroom, as this can lead to incomplete emptying of your bladder, which increases the risk of urinary tract infections.
Getting Started
Always talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Once you're ready to get going:
Start gradually. Even 5 minutes a day is a good start if you've been inactive. Add 5 minutes each week until you reach 30 minutes.
Dress comfortably in loose-fitting clothes and wear a supportive bra to protect your breasts.
Drink plenty of water to avoid overheating and dehydration.
Skip your exercises if you're sick.
Opt for a walk in an air-conditioned mall on hot, humid days.
Above all, listen to your body.
Although you may not feel like running a marathon, most women benefit greatly from exercising throughout their pregnancies. But during that time, you'll need to discuss your exercise plans with your doctor or other health care provider early on and make a few adjustments to your normal exercise routine. The level of exercise recommended will depend, in part, on your level of pre-pregnancy fitness.
Benefits of Exercising During Pregnancy
No doubt about it, exercise is a big plus for both you and your baby (if complications don't limit your ability to exercise throughout your pregnancy). It can help you:
Feel Better. At a time when you wonder if this strange body can possibly be yours, exercise can increase your sense of control and boost your energy level. Not only does it make you feel better by releasing endorphins (naturally occurring chemicals in your brain), appropriate exercise can:
relieve backaches and improve your posture by strengthening and toning muscles in your back, butt, and thighs
reduce constipation by accelerating movement in your intestine
prevent wear and tear on your joints (which become loosened during pregnancy due to normal hormonal changes) by activating the lubricating fluid in your joints
help you sleep better by relieving the stress and anxiety that might make you restless at night
Look Better. Exercise increases the blood flow to your skin, giving you a healthy glow.
Prepare you and your body for birth. Strong muscles and a fit heart can greatly ease labor and delivery. Gaining control over your breathing can help you manage pain. And in the event of a lengthy labor, increased endurance can be a real help.
Regain your pre-pregnancy body more quickly. You'll gain less fat weight during your pregnancy if you continue to exercise (assuming you exercised before becoming pregnant). But don't expect or try to lose weight by exercising while you're pregnant. For most women, the goal is to maintain their fitness level throughout pregnancy.
While the jury's still out on the additional benefits of exercise during pregnancy, some studies have shown that exercise may even lower a woman's risk of complications, like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.
What's Safe During Pregnancy?
It depends on when you start and whether your pregnancy is complicated. If you exercised regularly before becoming pregnant, continue your program, with modifications as you need them.
If you weren't fit before you became pregnant, don't give up! Begin slowly and build gradually as you become stronger. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes (that's 2½ hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week for healthy women who are not already highly active or doing vigorous-intensity activity.
If you're healthy, the risks of moderate-intensity activity during pregnancy are very low, and do not increase risk of low birth weight, preterm delivery, or early pregnancy loss.
Before you continue your old exercise routine or begin a new one, you should talk to your doctor about exercising while you're pregnant. Discuss any concerns you may have and know that you might need to limit your exercise if you have:
pregnancy-induced high blood pressure
early contractions
vaginal bleeding
premature rupture of your membranes, also known as your water (the fluid in the amniotic sac around the fetus) breaking early
Exercises to Try
That depends on what interests you and what your doctor advises. Many women enjoy dancing, swimming, water aerobics, yoga, Pilates, biking, or walking. Swimming is especially appealing, as it gives you welcome buoyancy (floatability or the feeling of weightlessness). Try for a combination of cardio (aerobic), strength, and flexibility exercises, and avoid bouncing.
Many experts recommend walking. It's easy to vary the pace, add hills, and add distance. If you're just starting, begin with a moderately brisk pace for a mile, 3 days a week. Add a couple of minutes every week, pick up the pace a bit, and eventually add hills to your route. Whether you're a pro or a novice, go slowly for the first 5 minutes to warm up and use the last 5 minutes to cool down.
If you were a runner before you were pregnant, you might be able to continue running during your pregnancy, although you may have to modify your routine.
Whatever type of exercise you and your doctor decide on, the key is to listen to your body's warnings. Many women, for example, become dizzy early in their pregnancy, and as the baby grows, their center of gravity changes. So it may be easy for you to lose your balance, especially in the last trimester.
Your energy level might vary greatly from day to day. And as your baby grows and pushes up on your lungs, you'll notice a decreased ability to breathe in more air (and the oxygen it contains) when you exercise. If your body says, "Stop!" — stop!
Your body is signaling that it's had enough if you feel:
fatigue
dizziness
heart palpitations (your heart pounding in your chest)
shortness of breath
pain in your back or pelvis
And if you can't talk while you're exercising, you're doing it too strenuously.
It also isn't good for your baby if you become overheated because temperatures greater than 102.6° F (39° C) could cause problems with the developing fetus — especially in the first trimester — which can potentially lead to birth defects. So don't overdo exercise on hot days.
When the weather is hot, avoid exercising outside during the hottest part of the day (from about 10 AM to 3 PM) or try to exercise in an air-conditioned place. Also remember that swimming makes it more difficult for you to notice your body heating up because the water makes you feel cooler.
Exercises to Avoid
Most doctors recommend that pregnant women avoid exercises after the first trimester that require them to lie flat on their backs.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it's also wise to avoid any activities that include:
bouncing
jarring (anything that would cause a lot of up and down movement)
leaping
a sudden change of direction
a risk of abdominal injury
Typical limitations include contact sports, downhill skiing, scuba diving, and horseback riding because of the risk of injury they pose.
Although some doctors say step aerobics workouts are acceptable if you can lower the height of your step as your pregnancy progresses, others caution that a changing center of gravity makes falls much more likely. If you do choose to do aerobics, just make sure to avoid becoming extremely winded or exercising to the point of exhaustion.
And check with your doctor if you experience any of these warning signs during any type of exercise:
vaginal bleeding
unusual pain
dizziness or lightheadedness
unusual shortness of breath
racing heartbeat or chest pain
fluid leaking from your vagina
uterine contractions
Kegel Exercises
Although the effects of Kegel exercises can't be seen from the outside, some women use them to reduce incontinence (the leakage of urine) caused by the weight of the baby on their bladder. Kegels help to strengthen the "pelvic floor muscles" (the muscles that aid in controlling urination).
Kegels are easy, and you can do them any time you have a few seconds — sitting in your car, at your desk, or standing in line at the store. No one will even know you're doing them!
To find the correct muscles, pretend you're trying to stop urinating. Squeeze those muscles for a few seconds, then relax. You're using the correct muscles if you feel a pull. Or place a finger inside your vagina and feel it tighten when you squeeze. Your doctor can also help you identify the correct muscles.
A few things to keep in mind when you're doing Kegel exercises:
Don't tighten other muscles (stomach or legs, for example) at the same time. You want to focus on the muscles you're exercising.
Don't hold your breath while you do them because it's important that your body and muscles continue to receive oxygen while you do any type of exercise.
Don't regularly do Kegels by stopping and starting your flow of urine while you're actually going to the bathroom, as this can lead to incomplete emptying of your bladder, which increases the risk of urinary tract infections.
Getting Started
Always talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Once you're ready to get going:
Start gradually. Even 5 minutes a day is a good start if you've been inactive. Add 5 minutes each week until you reach 30 minutes.
Dress comfortably in loose-fitting clothes and wear a supportive bra to protect your breasts.
Drink plenty of water to avoid overheating and dehydration.
Skip your exercises if you're sick.
Opt for a walk in an air-conditioned mall on hot, humid days.
Above all, listen to your body.
Yoga Breath For Childbirth
Pre and post natal Yoga specialist Allannah Law takes you through the last of a four part series, demonstrating both postures and breath for an active natural labour and childbirth. Part four teaches breathing techniques for an easier labour/labor - which baby loves too!
Source: www.yogayin.com
Via Youtube
Source: www.yogayin.com
Via Youtube
Birthlight Aqua Yoga - Swimming Stretches
Aqua Yoga for Pregnancy is a unique series of exercises which combine the therapeutic and buoyant nature of water with the energising and harmonising effect of yoga. Birthlight Aquanatal Yoga is the ideal preparation for women who are attracted to water birth as it includes special exercises for labour in the birthing pool. For more information see Birthlight's
Website www.birthlight.com
Via: Youtube
Website www.birthlight.com
Via: Youtube
Aqua Mom Aerobics
A mother expecting her second child jumps in the pool for a low-impact workout with Aqua Mom.
Source: www.parents.tv
Via Youtube
Source: www.parents.tv
Via Youtube
Saturday 2 July 2011
Water Aerobics For Pregnant Women
Source: www.effectivewaterfitness.com
Keeping up your fitness plan while pregnant is essential for your well being. Because of the support water provides to your body, swimming or water aerobics are the best solution for pregnant women.
During pregnancy your body goes through a metamorphosis which creates unbalanced body posture and, as a consequence, muscles pain. Your back especially, needs to provide extra support because of your prominent belly and extra weight you carry around. Supporting the changes happening to your body with some light training gives the extra strength the muscles on your back need, relieving you from the frustrating pain.
Aqua aerobics exercises train your back muscles without making you feel the weight of your body, giving you the benefits of training without risk of injuries. It has been proved that exercising during pregnancy and, in particular the soft training provided by aqua aerobics, not only helps you to feel better, stronger and happier but reduces the pain and the use of pain killer methods during labor and delivery. Women with an overall better physical condition and fitness level reach the due date for the delivery with more energy and resources that they will be able to put forward during the intense hours of labor and delivery. Therefore having less need of medical help.
The change of mood due to the changing hormonal balance in your body during pregnancy and the need of more energy for the growth of the fetus, make many women turn to food, maybe more often then they should or really need. The extra pounds you put up can effectively be controlled by exercising and we have already seen how aqua aerobics helps to burn calories effectively.
Because of the new condition a mother to be finds herself during pregnancy, social support is crucial. No one other than pregnant women can understand and share your feelings. Taking part to a water aerobics class for pregnant women in you community will provide the possibility to meet and share sensations with people in your same situation. Join water aerobics class in you local pool and start enjoying the benefits.
Keep healthy, keep swimming.
Keeping up your fitness plan while pregnant is essential for your well being. Because of the support water provides to your body, swimming or water aerobics are the best solution for pregnant women.
During pregnancy your body goes through a metamorphosis which creates unbalanced body posture and, as a consequence, muscles pain. Your back especially, needs to provide extra support because of your prominent belly and extra weight you carry around. Supporting the changes happening to your body with some light training gives the extra strength the muscles on your back need, relieving you from the frustrating pain.
Aqua aerobics exercises train your back muscles without making you feel the weight of your body, giving you the benefits of training without risk of injuries. It has been proved that exercising during pregnancy and, in particular the soft training provided by aqua aerobics, not only helps you to feel better, stronger and happier but reduces the pain and the use of pain killer methods during labor and delivery. Women with an overall better physical condition and fitness level reach the due date for the delivery with more energy and resources that they will be able to put forward during the intense hours of labor and delivery. Therefore having less need of medical help.
The change of mood due to the changing hormonal balance in your body during pregnancy and the need of more energy for the growth of the fetus, make many women turn to food, maybe more often then they should or really need. The extra pounds you put up can effectively be controlled by exercising and we have already seen how aqua aerobics helps to burn calories effectively.
Because of the new condition a mother to be finds herself during pregnancy, social support is crucial. No one other than pregnant women can understand and share your feelings. Taking part to a water aerobics class for pregnant women in you community will provide the possibility to meet and share sensations with people in your same situation. Join water aerobics class in you local pool and start enjoying the benefits.
Keep healthy, keep swimming.
Friday 1 July 2011
Birth With Song Video
Woman sings while having contractions during the home birth of her 10-lb. son. Song is Psalm 23 by Michael Olson. I'm gong to stop moderating the comments so I apologize if anything nasty gets put up. I've tried to keep the bad language out, but I'm having trouble keeping up with all the comments. So... here goes nothin'... Via: www.youtube.com
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