Tag: prenatal anxiety

What To Expect from Your First Ultrasound

For a first-time expectant mother, the prospect of getting an ultrasound is an exciting but scary one. Your first ultrasound is your first look at your unborn child and should be a special moment for you and your partner to enjoy without fear of the unknown putting a damper on the experience. Here is what to expect from your first ultrasound.

What to Expect from your First Ultrasound
*This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that I only work with companies and individuals that I trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.
What to Expect from your First Ultrasound

The Basics: Types of Ultrasounds

Typically, at least one ultrasound is conducted per trimester. The first ultrasound usually takes place around seven or eight weeks into the pregnancy. There are two main types of prenatal ultrasounds: transvaginal and transabdominal. Here is a brief overview of both.

Transvaginal Ultrasound

Transvaginal ultrasounds are typically used in the early stages of pregnancy because they make it easier to view the tiny fetus. In this type of ultrasound, a wand-like probe called a transducer is inserted into the vagina. The transducer emits sound waves that bounce off the fetus and create an image of your baby. The procedure may be a little uncomfortable, but you shouldn’t expect it to hurt.

Transabdominal Ultrasound

Transabdominal ultrasounds are used after the early weeks of a pregnancy and work by sending sound waves through the abdomen that reflect off the baby to create an image. When you get this type of ultrasound, the doctor will rub a clear gel on your abdomen to facilitate the transmission of soundwaves. He or she will then move a transducer, which emits sound waves, across your abdomen. This may feel a bit funny, but it will not hurt or cause discomfort.

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Transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasounds are the two most common methods, but they are not the only ones. 3D ultrasounds, which allow you to see a 3D image of your baby, are sometimes available. There are also some types of ultrasounds that focus on a particular part of your baby, like the heart. The two main kinds of ultrasounds work for most pregnancies, but if you feel that another kind would better suit you and your baby’s needs, do a little extra research and discuss it with your doctor.

How To Prepare for an Ultrasound

Now that you have learned what to expect from your first ultrasound, here are a few tips for how to prepare.

  • Come with a full bladder

For most ultrasounds, especially early on in a pregnancy, your doctor will ask you to come with a full bladder. When your bladder is full, it expands, which pushes your uterus upwards and moves the intestines and other organs out of the way.

  • Wear the appropriate outfit

While fashion advice seems out of place in this situation, it is really quite applicable. Consider the type of ultrasound you will be having when choosing what you will wear for the procedure. For a transvaginal ultrasound, you may be given a gown to wear. For a transabdominal ultrasound, wear something with two pieces to keep your stomach easily accessible.

  • Don’t be anxious!

When you are preparing for an ultrasound, don’t be anxious! Understanding the specifics of how an ultrasound works will reduce any anxiety or fear, and a good doctor can help reduce anxiety during the procedure. Ultrasounds are a normal and healthy part of pregnancy so there is no need to dread them.

Author Bio

Christina Duron is a writer living in the Chicagoland area. Her passion for writing and mental health help create thought provoking and engaging pieces and hopes to use them to empower mothers and women to embrace the beauty of motherhood.

Tips for Bringing Home a Baby in the Winter

Winter can be an unforgiving time of year. The temperatures are frigid, the roads are harsh, and there are mountains of snow. At one point, these conditions may have only been an inconvenience. But when you have a new baby, it can be hard not to think of all the things that can go wrong. While the dangers are real, so is our ability to prepare our babies and ourselves for the challenge. These are our tips for bringing home a baby in the winter.

Tips for Bringing Home a Baby in the Winter
*This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that I only work with companies and individuals that I trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

Watch Environmental Temperatures

Babies can be outside safely in the winter. But when the temperatures dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s best to keep a baby’s trips outside as brief as possible, namely to the car and back. However, keeping a baby too warm can also have disastrous consequences, as newborns have trouble regulating their body temperatures. When setting the thermostat, try to keep the temperature between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit, especially in the room where the baby is sleeping.

Bundling up

These ideas should also be kept in mind when bringing home a baby all bundled up. The rule of thumb is to dress the baby in at least one layer more than you would need as an adult, paying attention to the hands, feet, and head. Remove the layers as soon as you arrive inside to avoid overheating. Make sure the layers are loose enough that your baby can breathe.

Breathing is also an important consideration when bundling the baby for bed. Good crib bedding practices state that you should not add extra, loose blankets to the crib until the baby is at least a year old. Doing so will risk the baby suffocating. The best practice is to swaddle the baby in breathable cloth to help them feel warm, secure, and safe.

Newborn Daily Schedule
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Moisturization

If there’s one thing that’s true of the winter, it’s that the dry air can be rough on our skin. The same is true for our babies, too. When bathing babies in the winter, try to wash them briefly in water that isn’t too warm to avoid drying out their skin further. Non-fragranced, non-alcoholic soap will be the least harsh on babies’ skin. When done, make sure you pat babies dry to avoid wiping the oils from their skin. Apply a moisturizer immediately afterward to hold in the moisture. And use bamboo, hypo-allergenic diapers with aloe to help avoid diaper rash and/or chemical reactions. 

Author Bio

Christina Duron is a writer living in the Chicagoland area. Her passion for writing and mental health help create thought provoking and engaging pieces and hopes to use them to empower mothers and women to embrace the beauty of motherhood.

A Look at Mobile Ultrasounds for the Anxious Mom-To-Be

Mobile ultrasounds are a great way to beat a case of anxiety for expectant mothers.

Many women choose to get non-diagnostic ultrasounds during their pregnancy, where they can view their baby in the womb in 2D, 3D and 4D (video). But thanks to modern technology, a mobile ultrasound is the newest option for expectant moms to view their babies in-utero from the comfort of their own homes.  This helps moms feel more relaxed and at ease during the process. 

With Jess expecting her third baby in February, we thought it would be a great opportunity to test out the mobile ultrasound process for ourselves.  So we collaborated with Prenatal Peek, Winnipeg’s ONLY mobile ultrasound company, and the first mobile ultrasound company in Canada.

Check out some of these awesome features of mobile ultrasounds that can help put anxious moms at ease.
*This is a sponsored post for which I received compensation. As always, the opinions in this post are my own. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Furthermore, I am not a medical professional and nothing in this post should be taken as medical advice. I am simply a mother who has been there and lived to tell the tale.

Jess elected to have a mobile ultrasound from Prenatal Peek at her home, surrounded by her husband and two girls.  At the time, she was 24 weeks pregnant and they had been told the gender of the baby over the phone by their doctor but wanted to confirm it.  Jess had non-diagnostic ultrasounds with her two prior pregnancies, each at different locations in Winnipeg.  This was her first mobile ultrasound experience. 

Friendly Service

One of the best things about Prenatal Peek‘s mobile ultrasound process is the service.  Owner, Tracy, has been doing mobile ultrasounds for nearly 7 years and as a mother herself, she knows exactly how to make moms feel comfortable and at ease.  She has seen hundreds of babies via ultrasound, but when it was finally time to see Jess’s baby on the screen, she was just as excited as if it was the first time.

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Appointment Scheduling

An amazing benefit of the mobile ultrasound process is the flexible scheduling.  Unlike most elective ultrasound locations, there wasn’t a long wait to get an appointment.  Tracy fit us in on a Saturday afternoon and often works evenings and weekends because she understands what it’s like to be a busy, working parent.  We even had to make a few last minute changes to our appointment time, which she easily accommodated. 

Atmosphere + Environment

One of the biggest factors for an anxious mom-to-be when it comes to an ultrasound is the atmosphere and environment.  For moms who have suffered a pregnancy or infant loss or who have anxiety about hospitals, ultrasounds can make for an unpleasant experience.  This includes siblings and fathers-to-be who might also have a fear of hospitals due to a past trauma.  The option of having the ultrasound done in your own home is a great alternative.

It took almost no time for Tracy to get her equipment set up in Jess’s living room.  In fact, I was surprised at how little equipment was actually needed for the process.  With just a few cables, Tracy was able to link her screen onto the television, making it possible for everyone to view baby.  

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A Family Affair

With the ability to project the screen, a mobile ultrasound would make a fantastic option for a gender reveal party, a baby shower or to include grandparents and other extended family members.  Or, as Jess and her family chose to do it, a private and intimate family affair.  However you decide to host your mobile ultrasound, Prenatal Peek can usually accommodate.  But keep in mind that moms should be relaxed and comfortable in order to get baby to cooperate.  

Great for Siblings

Many children can have a fear of doctor’s offices, hospitals or new places and strangers.  This can make taking siblings along to an ultrasound quite difficult.  But Tracy did a great job of including Jess’s two daughters during the mobile ultrasound process.  The girls felt at ease in their own home and were excited to see the new baby on the television screen.  They each got their own stuffed animal that had a recording of the baby’s heartbeat and it was clearly their favorite part!

One of the most special moments during the mobile ultrasound was when Tracy handed over the controls.  Jess, her husband and her children each took a turn performing the ultrasound themselves.  This was a great way for them to connect with the baby.  And I’m certain it made dad and big sisters feel more involved in the pregnancy.  This unique experience really made mobile ultrasounds stand out among standard ones. 

In the end, we think that the personalized one-on-one service, convenience and comfort make mobile ultrasounds the way to go for moms to be and their families.  It’s a great option for moms suffering from prenatal anxiety or depression as they get all the benefits of seeing baby without the hassle normally associated with elective ultrasounds.  With the variety of different packages available, Prenatal Peek mobile ultrasound is totally affordable and you get to keep the images and video of your ultrasound for no additional cost, regardless of which package you choose! 

For more details and to book your appointment, visit the Prenatal Peek Website (prenatalpeek.ca) or Facebook page. 

Bonus: Mention that you read our review when you book your mobile ultrasound and get 10% off!

My Third and Last Pregnancy: Thoughts from Jess

So far, I have spent almost 2 years of my life being pregnant.

I am now 22 weeks pregnant with my third baby. Just over halfway there! As a family we have decided that this will be our last baby, and with that comes a roller coaster of emotions. When I was pregnant with my second daughter, I knew we had planned for 3 kids in total, so I feel as though I did not appreciate every moment of that pregnancy.

But there’s something different about the last pregnancy: 
    • This will be the last time I will feel those flutters and kicks, so I am trying to stop and really feel every movement. 
    • This will be the last time I grow a life inside of me. 
    • The last time I will wash newborn clothes and prepare a nursery. 
    • The last time I will choose a name for a new person.
My Third and Last Pregnancy: Thoughts from Jess
*This post contains affiliate and/or paid links which means that if you click on one of these links and buy a product, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that I only recommend products that I love from companies that I trust. Furthermore, I am not a medical professional and nothing in this post should be taken as medical advice. I am simply a mother who has been there and lived to tell the tale.

I thought maybe I would feel sad about it, but to be honest, I am feeling very at peace about the whole experience. In a way, I feel like this little bonus baby is a gift for my two girls. Both my daughters, who will be 6 & 3 when baby arrives, are beyond excited about the arrival of their new sibling. I think their excitement elevates my own. In a way I think it’s so special that I am growing this little gift for them, who they lovingly refer to as their baby.

Maternity Photo Shoot Ideas 1
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With my first pregnancy, I was so anxious about everything.

I had no idea what to expect. I was your typical first time mom, I read everything, I googled and researched and went to birthing classes. I bought everything brand new, planned fashionable outfits and decorated a beautiful nursery with matching bedding. We spent hours looking for the right stroller and car seat. I thought all the right “things” would be so important. Looking back now, I laugh at myself for putting so much effort into the things that didn’t matter as much.

With my second pregnancy, I worried about the adjustment to having two kids.

I worried about my oldest daughter feeling replaced. I worried about how to care for two lives. I worried about how to love them equally. I worried about the logistics and how to manage being out in public with two kids.  I worried about how I would split my time and attention. I worried so much, I couldn’t sleep. And when she finally arrived, life worked itself out, just like everyone had assured me it would. Her older sister was in love with her, and I learned just what exponential love really was. Just like that, our love had doubled.

How to Prepare for Another Baby after Postpartum Depression
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Now with my third, I am excited.

I know that this baby will add another level of love. I have heard from other moms of three (or more) that a second baby is a harder adjustment than a third and I believe it. I am already so busy and I am already used to juggling schedules and attention. After the initial first trimester where I was a pukey nauseous disaster, I am in that second trimester sweet spot. I am still getting sleep, I can eat anything I want and I can walk without waddling. I know that will all end very soon, but for right now, I am enjoying this stage.  And while I am SO excited to meet this baby, I am in no hurry. I am savoring every last minute of this pregnancy… the stretchy maternity pants and all! 

Not First Time Mom to Be Gift Guide
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So while the thought of this being my last pregnancy does feel like the end of an era, it also feels right for me and my family.  I will try my best to keep you updated on this journey with my growing family. I appreciate the outpouring of love I have received as I start my own adventure Running in Triangles.

Jess Sankar | Running in Triangles
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