After you discovered you were pregnant, you might have felt shocked or even panicked. If you decide to choose adoption for your baby, you might still feel like you are treading in deep water. What do you do first? Where do you start? If you are hoping to pursue adoption for your baby but feel overwhelmed at getting started, here are some first steps that can help you feel more in control of your choice. Reach Out for Support You don’t have to face the adoption process alone. Many women find hope and help through friendships or family. If you have a parent who supports your choice, they can help you feel more confident as you make plans for your future. If you don’t have a parent you trust, you might ask a close friend or extended family member, such as an aunt, cousin, or grandparent, to support you. When choosing someone who can support you, try to focus on what help they can give you. You want someone who is level-headed and who can help you stick to your goals when you might feel overwhelmed. You also want someone who can give you emotional support. Choose someone who cares for you but who will not manipulate you or monopolize your choices. This person can help you in many ways. For example, when you meet with an adoption agency, they can come with you with the questions you have written down. If you feel emotional, your friend or loved one can help direct the conversation. Contact an Adoption Agency One of the first things you should do is reach out to an adoption agency. The right agency will provide for your emotional needs. You should never feel forced, rushed, or pressured into choosing adoption for your baby. When you meet with an agency representative, bring all the questions you have to the consultation. You might want to know how birth parents are screened, how long the process takes after you give birth, if you can change your mind, and how you will pay for your medical bills. Choosing to meet with an agency does not mean that you have to continue to use that agency. Meet with as many people as you like until you find a place which fits your needs and where you feel comfortable. You can also use a family lawyer instead of an agency if you already have birth parents you want for your baby. Going to an adoption agency early in the process will make everything easier for you. They provide the services, including legal services, that help connect you to good adoptive families, but they also can provide mental health support for birth mothers and guidance during the pregnancy. Make a Doctor’s Appointment Your health is important. When you find out that you are pregnant, call a local doctor’s office to get your first OBGYN appointment. And OBGYN focuses on the health of both mother and baby. Your first appointment should happen when you are about 6 to 8 weeks pregnant. Your OBGYN can confirm the pregnancy with an ultrasound. Your first appointment will also involve some blood tests and questions about your medical history. The doctor will test your blood for sexually transmitted diseases that could affect your baby, and they will also test for things like iron levels to make sure that you don’t need extra supplementation. You might also get a breast exam and Pap smear at your first appointment. Your doctor will recommend that you take a prenatal vitamin to make sure that you and your baby get all the nutrients you need. If you have been using alcohol or smoking, your doctor will recommend that you stop immediately and can provide advice on how to keep you and your baby healthy during your pregnancy. Don’t postpone getting prenatal care because you are concerned about cost. Adoptive parents sometimes cover the cost of pregnancy expenses. You can talk to your adoption agency about how that compensation will occur. Seek Counseling Your adoption agency might suggest that you get counseling as part of the process of adoption. This counseling can be provided by the agency, but you might feel just as comfortable seeking a different counselor. Counseling can provide you with the emotional preparation that you will need during the adoption process, but it can also help you focus on your own future. You can set goals for your life, and your counselor can help you plan how to achieve them. You might find it hard to stay positive, and counseling can help you through bouts of depression that can occur during pregnancy. Fill Out Your Forms Finally, once you have met with doctors and adoption agents, you will have some paperwork to fill out. These forms will detail your desires for your child and help the agency find a good match your baby. You can explain the type of adoption you want, how much contact you hope to have with your child, and the future you want your baby to have. After you fill out these forms, you can start the process of choosing your baby’s parents. The choice is entirely yours so that you can know what future you are giving your baby. For more information, contact us at A Child’s Dream.

Nausea is common in pregnancy, especially in the early stages. Known as morning sickness , nausea and vomiting occur naturally as your body changes. Understanding why nausea happens, what it means if nausea is severe, and how to alleviate nausea can help you stay healthy during pregnancy. Here’s what you need to know to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. What Causes Nausea During Pregnancy? It is believed that nausea is caused by hormone changes that occur during pregnancy. Specifically, the production of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is believed to be the primary cause of nausea. This hormone is what helps the baby get what it needs during the early stages of pregnancy. Later in the pregnancy, as the baby gets more nourishment from the placenta, the production of this hormone declines somewhat. This causes the nausea to subside. When Does Nausea Occur? Nausea starts around week 6 of the pregnancy and continues up through about week 18. Some women continue to experience morning sickness after this point, and in some cases, women experience morning sickness throughout the pregnancy. Although it is called morning sickness , this condition doesn’t just happen in the mornings. In fact, it is a small percentage of women who have morning sickness only in the mornings. Women can get morning sickness at any time of the day or night. It is believed that morning sickness frequently occurs in the morning because the pregnancy hormones relax the stomach and intestines. This prompts the digestive system to create more acid at night, leading to vomiting after waking up. What If Your Nausea Is Severe? Severe morning sickness could be the result of a condition known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum. This condition is similar to normal morning sickness but may start earlier and end later. It is also much more severe. People who suffer from this condition may vomit throughout the day, so they’re unable to take in enough food or water. This condition can be dangerous to the mother and baby, who need proper nutrition and hydration throughout pregnancy in order to thrive. Other symptoms include: Weight loss Infrequent urination Dark brown or bloody vomit Dizziness Confusion Fainting If you’re vomiting three times per day or more, you could be suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum. See your doctor right away to get treatment. Waiting could lead to severe dehydration and other dangerous health problems. What Can You Do to Control Your Nausea? There are many home remedies for controlling nausea. Women experiencing nausea should try different remedies to see what works for them. Drink Ginger Tea or Lemon Water Slice up small pieces of ginger, then steep them in hot water to make a tea. Strain the slices and sip at your leisure. Some people also recommend drinking lemon water. Drink lemon water iced or hot, depending on your preferences. Eat Small Snacks Eat small snacks throughout the day, starting with the moments before you get up for the morning. Keep a small snack, like nuts, by your bedside. Snack a small amount if you wake up in the night to go to the bathroom as well. Adjust Your Supplements There are many supplements that are believed to help with morning sickness. Talk to your doctor to find out which supplements they recommend for your pregnancy. You should never take supplements during pregnancy without speaking with your doctor first. Prenatal vitamins have a lot of iron in them, which can aggravate morning sickness. Don’t stop taking your prenatal vitamins because you’re feeling ill. Try splitting the dose between morning and evening, and shop around for different vitamins to see if one works better than others. Your doctor may recommend trying supplements that are low on iron, or that are iron-free, but you should talk to your doctor about this before doing it yourself. Taking the vitamins when you’re feeling the least ill, and taking them with yogurt, can help. Stimulate the Pressure Points Wrist bands that apply pressure for car sickness can also be used to alleviate morning sickness nausea. These bands are sold in pharmacies. Talk to your doctor before using these bands on yourself. Know When to Lie Down Sometimes your body just needs a little time to relax and rest. Know when you’re feeling fatigued, and lie down if you’re feeling very bad. Work With Your Physician Keep your doctor informed about your symptoms throughout pregnancy. Your doctor will be able to make recommendations if you’re experiencing severe or persistent nausea and can tell you what’s normal and what’s not. It Will Get Better! When the pregnancy is over, nausea goes away with the pregnancy hormones. Taking care of yourself throughout the pregnancy can help ensure that you’ll give birth to a healthy child. For more information about adoption and the adoption process, contact A Child’s Dream . We can give you information throughout your pregnancy and can help facilitate a successful adoption.

Postpartum depression is a serious problem, but at least it’s one that most expectant mother know to watch out for. A related condition that’s received less attention is prenatal or antepartum depression – depression that occurs sometime during the pregnancy, rather than after. Birth mothers who plan to give their baby up for adoption may be at particular risk for developing prenatal depression. Here’s what you need to know. What Is Prenatal Depression?

The decision to give up a baby for adoption is life-changing. After you have decided to put a baby up for adoption, you will have to decide which adoption agency to use, which family gets the baby, and whether or not you would like to stay in touch with the baby after adoption. Making these decisions will help you have a less stressful pregnancy and a smoother adoption experience. Here is what you need to know about these three important decisions before placing your baby up for adoption. 1. Which Adoption Agency Will You Use? Adoption agencies are all different, so the first thing you will have to do is look for the right adoption agency for you. Different adoption agencies may follow different procedures and offer birth mothers different levels of control throughout the adoption process. When making this decision, start by examining the different processes at each agency you consider. Payment Are you expected to pay for lawyers, medical care, adoption fees, or travel during the adoption process? Some agencies help birth mothers get through adoption without paying anything, while others may require birth mothers to pay for some services. Look for the agency that will enable you to get through the adoption process while staying within your budget. Placement What does the agency do to ensure that each child is placed in a safe and loving home? What is the home study process, and how thorough is it? Answer these questions and find an agency with processes that make you feel comfortable. Reputation and Professionalism Reputation and professionalism are critical for a sensitive process like adoption. When you sign up with an agency to place a baby up for adoption, choose an agency that is reputable and well-established in the community. You need to consider many things when trying to gauge an agency’s reputation and business processes: Testimonials. Research testimonials and real-life stories about experiences with the adoption agency. references. Some adoption agencies may provide references that you can contact about their experience with the agency. Process. Different agencies will have different processes for facilitating adoption; consider all processes when trying to choose the agency for you. Explore the agency’s website to read as much as you can. Read their about section, FAQs, and any information about their philosophy, customer service, and commitment to professionalism. Call agencies that you are seriously considering, and ask them questions until you find an agency that makes you feel comfortable. 2. How Will You Choose a Family for the Baby? Agencies commonly give birth mothers the ability to choose the home where their baby is placed. Choosing the family is a big responsibility. Consider your priorities and how you would like the child to be raised. Factors to consider include: Presence of siblings and pets Approach to parenting Environment where the child will live Financial security The agency you choose may give you the ability to search through profiles, scrapbooks, letters, or home studies to choose the right family for the adoption. If you are not sure what you want, write a list that will help you sort out your priorities. You might want to write a description of the ideal family for your child. This will help you sort out what is most important to you. 3. Will You Stay in Touch With the Baby? Some birth mothers choose to stay in contact with the adopting family, while others do not. You will need to decide for yourself how often you want to have updates and what kind of contact you’d like to have with the adopting family. Once you know how involved you would like to be, you will need to communicate your wishes with the adoption agency. Write a plan, including how often and what kind of contact you would like to have with the adopting family. Putting your wishes in writing will help you solidify your plan, think through the details, and ensure that others will understand and follow your plan. Work With Your Adoption Specialist The decisions described above are difficult for birth mothers to make, especially for birth mothers who have never gone through the adoption process before. Working with an adoption specialist at a reputable adoption agency can help. Your adoption specialist can answer your questions and give you perspective that can help you make decisions. Getting started early in the pregnancy can help ensure that you have the time you need to make the right decisions for your child. If you are pregnant and want to place the baby for adoption, contact a reputable agency today. At A Child’s Dream, we provide expertise and assistance for birth mothers during the adoption process. If you have questions about placing your baby up for adoption, contact us today for more information. We look forward to helping you during this important time.

Pregnancy causes many changes in the body, including changes in hormones and immune function. These changes often require pregnant women to take better care of themselves. Taking good care of yourself during pregnancy can help keep you and your baby safe. Healthy habits can even lead to an easier labor and delivery. Here is what you need to know. 1. Take Prenatal Vitamins Prenatal vitamins contain a lot of the nutrients that pregnant women should consume to ensure healthy development of the fetus. One of these vitamins is called folic acid. Taking folic acid reduces the baby’s risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida. Prenatal vitamins also contain iron, which delivers oxygen to your baby, as well as calcium. You will need calcium because you may lose bone density during pregnancy. Follow instructions on the prenatal vitamin bottle to ensure that you take enough capsules throughout pregnancy. 2. Protect Yourself from Listeria Listeria is a bacteria that can harm you and your baby. It causes a sickness called listeriosis. Pregnant women are more likely to have listeria than women who are not pregnant. Women who have listeriosis can experience fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms. Pregnant women with listeriosis are also at serious risk of miscarriage. People can have exposure to listeria by consuming unpasteurized milk, uncooked meats and vegetables, and processed foods. However, careful food consumption can help protect you from listeria. These tips will help: Avoid unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk. Do not eat raw meat. Do not eat smoked, uncooked seafood. Wash all vegetables well before eating. Do not eat meat spreads. Following these tips can help you avoid exposure to listeria bacteria and thus can protect you from listeriosis itself. 3. Drink Water and Milk Pregnant women spend a lot of their time thirsty. Carry a metal water bottle with you wherever you go so you will have always have something to drink. Drinking milk will help you get the extra calcium you need to stay healthy while pregnant. 4. Eat Fruits, Vegetables, and Beans Prenatal vitamins do not cover all of your nutritional needs. A significant percentage of your daily nutrition should come from healthy vegetables and lean protein sources like beans. Eat leafy greens and legumes to get more folic acid. Consume fruits that are high in vitamin C, like honeydew, oranges, broccoli, and grapefruit. To boost your calcium intake, eat yogurt mixed with your fruit. 5. Exercise Regularly Exercise is very important during pregnancy because it helps regulate your mood and makes sleeping easier. Exercise is also good for circulation. Gentle forms of exercise are best, particularly exercise regimens specially designed for pregnant women. Walking, yoga, meditation, and swimming are all good for pregnant women. Talk to your doctor about what types of exercise are best for you. Your doctor can also help you decide how often you should exercise in order to stay healthy. 6. Track Weight Gain You should gain weight during pregnancy. In addition to the weight of the baby, your body will have more blood, a larger uterus, and bigger breasts. Most women will gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy. However, too much weight gain during pregnancy can put you and your child at risk. Tracking your weight gain throughout the pregnancy can help you avoid obesity. If you were overweight when you became pregnant, you may need to gain less weight during pregnancy. If you were underweight when you became pregnant, you may need to gain more weight. Women who are pregnant with twins will gain more weight than women who are not. Talk to your physician to find out how much weight you can expect to gain while pregnant and then monitor your weight gain to ensure you are on track. 7. Cut Out Certain Types of Fish Some types of fish contain high levels of mercury, which can impact your baby’s brain development. Often shark, tilefish, swordfish, and king mackerel are the worst types of fish for pregnant women. Tuna can also be problematic, so women should limit the amount of tuna they consume. 8. Sleep at Least 7 Hours Daily Women who do not get enough sleep at night are more likely to experience complications during labor and are more likely to need a C-section. Sleeping can be difficult for pregnant mothers, so women should lay in bed for at least 8 hours each day in order to get at least 7 hours each day. Women who have an especially hard time falling asleep may need to work with their doctor to devise strategies that will help. If you are pregnant and have more questions about what to expect during pregnancy, contact A Child’s Dream today. Our birth mother specialists are here for you through every step of your pregnancy.

From heartburn to nausea and exhaustion, you often experience several uncomfortable symptoms while pregnant. In most cases, these unwanted symptoms are completely normal and will improve as the pregnancy continues or go away completely once the baby is born. However, other symptoms of sickness exist that you shouldn’t ignore. If you experience any of these symptoms during pregnancy, contact your physician right away. Fever From the common cold, an ear infection, or strep throat, many illnesses can cause a fever in a pregnant woman. If you’re busy or have other kids to care for, you may ignore the fever and continue your busy day. However, once your fever reaches 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, lasts for longer than 24 hours, or is accompanied by a rash and stomach pains, you should contact your physician. Something more serious could cause the fever, such as food poisoning, varicella, or toxoplasmosis, a deadly parasitic infection. That’s why you always need to check. Contact your doctor before taking any over the counter medications to treat your fever as well. Some fever-reducing medications, including ibuprofen, is potentially dangerous to the baby, particularly in the third trimester. Back Pain that Won’t Go Away Changes in posture, weight gain, and hormonal changes are some of the many reasons why around 80 percent of pregnant women experience back pain. Lying on your side and taking a doctor-approved over the counter pain reliever is typically enough to ease the discomfort. However, if you experience severe back pain in conjunction with other symptoms, the problem could be more serious. Persistent back pain, a fever, chills, and frequent urination is often a sign of a kidney or urinary tract infection, which needs immediate treatment with antibiotics. Changes in vaginal discharge, spotting or bleeding, and back pain that feels tight or unusual are often signs of preterm labor. Severe Swelling in the Hands or Face Swelling is another unfortunate part of pregnancy that occurs because of the excess fluids and blood needed to support the growing fetus. Many pregnant women experience swelling primarily in the hands and feet, particularly during the third trimester. In most cases, resting, avoiding caffeine and sodium, and staying out of the heat is enough to bring the swelling under control. If swelling is severe, sudden, occurs in the hands and face, and is accompanied by a severe headache, blurry vision, decreased urination, and nausea, the issue could be a serious condition called preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a condition that can occur anytime during pregnancy and causes a spike in blood pressure. The only cure for preeclampsia is to deliver the baby. Untreated preeclampsia develops into eclampsia, which is life-threatening to the birth mother and baby. Severe Itching Mild itching is another common issue many pregnant women experience. Increased blood production and skin stretching to accommodate your growing baby together can make your skin feel tight and itchy. Luckily, taking a bath or applying a moisturizing lotion to the affected skin typically relieves the mild itching. Severe, unrelenting itching that begins near the end of the second trimester, is worse at night, and occurs on the palms and bottom of your feet are signs of a serious condition called obstetric cholestasis. Otherwise known as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, obstetric cholestasis is a severe liver disorder that can negatively impact the baby but typically doesn’t affect the birth mother’s health. Your body creates bile in the liver, stores the bile in the gallbladder, and has the bile travels to the intestines to aid in digestion. However, with pregnant women who have obstetric cholestasis, the bile, which contains acids, doesn’t filter into the digestive tract properly. The buildup of bile is very harmful to the baby. The only way to cure obstetric cholestasis is to deliver the baby. Sudden Decrease in Movement at Any Point of the Pregnancy Most pregnant women feel a baby’s kicking or movement anywhere from 13 to 25 weeks . By 28 weeks, your doctor might recommend counting your baby’s kicks and movements. This is a simple way to ensure the baby is active and developing normally. Most babies will remain very active throughout the second trimester and the beginning of the third. By the ninth month of pregnancy, the uterus is very crowded, and a baby will be less active. However, you should still feel movement throughout the day. If the baby’s movements decrease dramatically, your doctor might recommend counting kicks for a two-hour period. If less than 10 kicks in two hours occur, contact your doctor immediately. Your doctor will perform a battery of tests, including an ultrasound, to determine why the baby’s movements have slowed down. As the birth mother, you want to ensure you and the baby remain as healthy as possible throughout the pregnancy. If you have any questions about the adoption process, contact the professionals at A Child’s Dream .

Pregnancy is a time when many women experience physical discomfort like sore muscles, back pain, and pain in the breasts. Wearing the right clothes during this time is very important. Comfortable clothes can help reduce discomfort and make the overall experience of being pregnant easier to tolerate. However, many women hesitate to buy a full wardrobe for a period of time that will last no longer than nine months. Instead, many prefer to buy only a few of the most important items. However, which ones are the most important? This article will explore some of the most helpful items of clothing you can obtain during your nine month wait. Maternity Bra If you are like most women, your breasts will swell during your pregnancy. Women often change bras at least once during this time, and some will change bras twice. Although you might be able to get away with wearing a standard bra in a slightly larger size, you will likely be happier if you buy a maternity bra. These bras have extra padding and no underwire. They offer the same type of support as normal bras but are often more comfortable. You will appreciate your maternity bra when your breasts become sore. Over the Belly Yoga Pants As the baby grows in the body, many women find normal maneuvering to be a challenge. Stiff pants make moving even harder, so jeans often fall out of favor during pregnancy. Many women find the most comfortable pants to wear while pregnant are yoga pants. Made from stretchy, soft material, yoga pants do almost nothing to inhibit movement. In early stages of pregnancy, some women wear yoga pants that stay up with an elastic band around the stomach. However, for women in the later stages of pregnancy, this style of pant may not grip the belly tight enough to stay up. Over the belly yoga pants are more likely to stay up through all stages of pregnancy, even in the weeks close to labor and delivery. Solid Colored T-Shirts T-shirts are comfortable and practical because they can be dressed up to wear to work or dressed down to wear around the house. T-shirts featuring a cute message are fun. However, message shirts are less flexible because they are hard to dress up. If you want to buy only a few practical t-shirts for your pregnancy, solid-colored shirts are best. Solid shirts are easy to wear to just about any place and for any kind of occasion, except maybe in the most formal circumstances. Maxi Dress A maxi dress is a dress that is often formfitting on top and long and flowing beneath the breasts. Maxi dresses are one of the most practical types of dresses for a pregnant woman because they are comfortable to wear at home or out on the town. You can wear them to formal occasions like weddings or just when sitting around the house. Maternity maxi dresses are also practical because their flowing nature means that they continue to fit even as the belly grows. For a woman who wants to buy only one dress for their pregnancy, black is a practical color. Black dresses look pleasantly formal and beautiful but can also be casual. Comfortable Slippers and Flip-Flops Feet and ankles often swell during pregnancy, which can make wearing normal shoes uncomfortable. A flexible pair of shoes like a good pair of flip-flops can help ensure that you will have something comfy to wear at home or while out running errands. Best of all, flip-flops aren’t expensive, so even if you have to buy a pair in a size up, you won’t need to invest a lot of money in your shoes. Even with a pair of flip-flops to wear outside and around town, you will still want something soft and padded to wear at night. If your feet swell too much, your normal slippers may not fit. Buy a pair of slippers in a size up so you will be sure to have something you can wear in your pajamas. Bellyband A bellyband is not an ordinary item of clothing, but it does provide critical belly support. Bellybands help with back pain while correcting your posture. However, many pregnant women use their bellyband as an accessory that slips over the top of the pants and prevents them from falling down. This makes wearing non-maternity pants a possibility for longer into the pregnancy than might otherwise be possible. Do you have more questions about how to manage your pregnancy? At A Child’s Dream, we help pregnant women navigate their nine months of pregnancy. We provide support to pregnant women and are happy to answer all your questions about pregnancy. Contact us today to find out more. Our experienced and compassionate staff members are here to help you.

Even though you have made the choice to place your baby with adoptive parents, you still experience all of the symptoms of pregnancy. Some of the symptoms can be uncomfortable or even painful for women. When you want to focus on improving your own future and choosing the right future for your child, these discomforts can be frustrating to deal with. However, you don’t just have to live with them until delivery. There are some things you can do on a daily basis to help make your pregnancy more enjoyable. 1. Wear Comfortable and Supportive Shoes Some women can start to experience foot pain during pregnancy. Foot pain usually occurs because of increased swelling in the feet, weight gain over a short period of time and lack of supportive footwear. It’s hard to fit into your old tennis shoes when your feet are swelling. However, simply wearing flip flops until your pregnancy is over will only make foot pain more severe. Try to find a pair of supportive shoes that will fit, even if you have to get them larger than your normal street size. Supportive shoes don’t just help with foot pain. They can help you from the ground up by making lower leg and hip pain more manageable as well. Also, don’t forget to stay away from shoes that will only make foot pain worse. Heels, for example, throw off your center of gravity and put a lot of pressure on your heels and lower back. 2. Join a Local Yoga Class Check your community center or local fitness center for open yoga classes. Some centers for mother support or women’s health may also offer some prenatal yoga classes. Even if you have not done yoga before, prenatal yoga helps you to stretch safely and keep your muscles strong. Strength and stretching make it easier for your body to handle the stress of pregnancy, which is why yoga can be so helpful for reducing general discomfort and sore areas. 3. Practice Deep Breathing Since becoming pregnant, you have probably been dealing with stress after stress. While your social worker and adoption agency can help you navigate the process of choosing a home for your baby, it’s still an emotional time that can affect your physical health. Increased emotional and mental stress can actually make physical aches and pains more severe. Stress raises the cortisol levels in your body. This hormone is usually there to help stimulate your muscles, nerves and heart when you need a “fight or flight” response. However, with prolonged exposure to cortisol, your muscles become tired, your digestion suffers and you might experience more headaches, weight gain and difficulty sleeping. All of these translate to increased pain. Deep breathing can help you learn to decrease stress. Take long, slow meditative breaths. Sometimes it can help to listen to a meditation track with guided breathing. The breathing will not only help you manage stress during your pregnancy, but it will also help you during labor and delivery as well. There are meditative tracks available specifically for expecting mothers to help reduce your fear and anxiety. 4. Take Advantage of Heat For lower back pain, round ligament pain or neck pain, you might enjoy a hot compress. You can get an electric heating pad from your local store, or you could make a heating pad with a fabric bag and some rice. When microwaved, the rice becomes hot and you can use the hot bag as a compress for areas that are sore. Using heat helps to increase circulation to a sore area, and it helps during pregnancy because the heat can also encourage normally uncomfortable areas to release tension. 5. Get in the Water If you have a bathtub at your home, take advantage of it. The water helps to lift some weight from your joints, and the warmth from the water is like an all-encompassing warm compress. Just don’t make the water too hot. Hot tubs are not safe for pregnant women, so your bath at home should be pleasantly warm but not hot enough to redden the skin. If you don’t have a bathtub, consider taking a dip in your local pool or visit a friend who has a pool or bathtub you can borrow when you’re really feeling uncomfortable. Swimming is great exercise for pregnant women, and it is also completely safe for the baby. 6. Stay Active You might not feel like working out very much, especially when queasy or tired. However, even incorporating a simple walk into your day can help with aches and pains. You may find that lying or sitting down too long is what makes your hips, back or shoulders begin to feel sore. Exercise prevents excessive weight gain during pregnancy, and it also keeps your muscles stronger. You’ll usually have a better delivery and recover more quickly after birth if you are active. For more information about staying healthy during your pregnancy, contact us at A Child’s Dream . We work hard to make sure birth mothers feel welcome, empowered and capable.