A Mini-Course

How to get pregnant

Are you thinking of having a family and already considering having a baby now? Here are some guidelines on how to get pregnant.

Do you know when you are most fertile? It is between the 14th to the 21st day of your cycle, where day 1 is the first day of you period. Having regular sexual intercourse during this time would most likely bear fruit. Low fertility rate aside, the secret of getting pregnant, is to know your (woman) ovulation period. Aside from the calendar method mentioned, the cervical mucus discharge can also be considered. It is the white/clear substance or the yellowish and thick discharge from the woman. When very fertile, the woman can observe the latter which sends a go signal for the partners to try having a baby. Body temperature is also another method; take your body temperature in the morning before you move around. When you are ovulating, your body temp will drop half degree, however this reading also has errors sometimes. And an over the counter ovulation-predictor kits are also available to help you predict your ovulation period. If none worked for you, it is advisable to seek for medical advice.

Healthy diet during pregnancy

It is a misconception that when you are pregnant, you are actually eating for two. You only need to eat 300 extra calories per day beginning on the third trimester of your conception. Overeating is most likely the common problem among pregnant women in which only 25 to 35 pounds weight gain is recommended.

Do eat healthy foods, the nutrient-dense foods. Milk is primarily the need of a pregnant woman, not only that it gives calcium but also a lot of protein. B vitamins and protein are also very essential which can be found in lean pork and beef. Whole grains are also rich in B vitamins plus magnesium, zinc and fiber which is essential to avoid constipation along with 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. Orange juice is also highly recommended for folate and Vitamin C intake.

Do not eat too many sweets during pregnancy. Eat moderately on candies, cake, cookies and ice cream. Do not get filled with empty calories and sweets. By doing so, you might only replace nutrient-dense foods or worse, get too much overall calories.

Tips in naming your baby

The name is for a lifetime. The name of your baby will reflect how he or she will be as a person. Make sure that the name not only gives you warm but would also give joy and pride to your baby as he or she brings it for life.

Why not integrate your names together in naming your baby? It is fun to combine something from both of your partner’s name. Your baby’s name can start the first letter of his or her name with the first letter of either of your names. For instance, your name is Joan and your husband’s name is Ronald, why not name your baby Rhona Jeanne?

You can also consider other meaningful names out of your religion or ethnicity. You can refer to the bible or to holy books in respect to your religion or names from historical books to honor ethnicity.

Foresee spelling and pronunciation problems. Make sure that your baby’s name will not be his or her lifetime frustration, having so many problems in the pronunciation base on the spelling.

It is also note worthy to avoid initials that can form or spell out words like “RAT” in the name Reynold Alan Talbot. Would you be happy to see RAT in a monogrammed baby gift?

You can also settle for popular names or names of celebrities like Jennifer and John. Above all, you just have to follow your heart. Whatever you feel like naming your baby, go for it. What matters is that you feel comfortable with it and most importantly, you love it.

Tips on getting back into shape

You move. You can actually start doing short distance walking like just around the block if it does not give you any discomfort until your check up on your 6th week. After which, you can already start doing cardio for 20 to 30 minutes around two to three times a day.

You breastfeed your baby--breastfeeding can actually burn 600 to 800 calories per day. Though you need an extra 500 calories on your diet, they are completely burn even when you simply sit comfortably while feeding your baby.

You hold your baby above your chest, press your baby slowly towards the ceiling several times while lying on your back. No fitness program nor gym appointments needed. Have fun with your baby, lift weights and get strong.

You fill your diet with nutrient-rich meals. Lean meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and plenty of low-fat dairy products are very much recommended. Sodas and chips are junk, therefore, they are NO NO to you. Stay healthy and always watch on your calories and fats.