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Pregnancy and you

With Mayo Clinic certified nurse-midwife Mary Murry, R.N., C.N.M.

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February 20, 2008 1:07 p.m.

Pregnancy and you: Welcome to our new blog

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By Mary Murry, R.N., C.N.M.

I was touring the baby department of a local superstore over the weekend and I was astounded at all the "things" that are available now for moms, newborns and babies.

My baby just turned 19 last week and I discovered things have come a long way in the last 20 years. Slings and carriers; cradle swings and play yards (I guess playpen does sound kind of prison like); baby monitors and portable electric breast pumps (don’t ask about mine). Car seats are all 5 point and strollers look like SUVs. What a marvel! How did I care for a baby without at least some of these things?

I might not have had all those things but there were other things it seems I had less of: rules. I could eat a club sandwich every day. I could gorge on fish. I could drink coffee. I could eat soft cheeses in ignorant bliss. Today's pregnant woman could wonder how I had such healthy babies.

There do seem to be so many do's and don'ts for pregnant women today. It can seem like there is no living while you are pregnant, at least not the life you were used to. I hope this blog can be a place for pregnant women to share their concerns and their worries as well as their joys and little miracles. As a mother and a nurse midwife I look forward to being a part of this community.

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79 comments posted

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July 2, 2008 3:41 p.m.

Hi Mary, This is my first pregnancy and I am 31 years old.I am 38 weeks pregnant now and my baby's head is not engaged yet. Is there still time for this to happen? Is it recommendable to do squatting exercises? Or other type of exercises? What might be causing my baby not to be engaged yet? Thank you.

- Romina

June 23, 2008 5:12 p.m.

Paula, Thank you so much for your feedback...I guess I'll just have to wait and see :)

- No name given

June 23, 2008 8:49 a.m.

Dreamer, I don't know if it was all in my head or not, but, yes, I felt things that were not the same as they had always been. I felt, when implantation occured in the uterus, some thing along the lines of a great big mosquito bite. This was probably about a week after conception. And about a week and a half after conception, I had the sore breasts and much more frequent unination. I know this sounds strange, but I just knew that I was pregnant. It was very exciting to feel these different things.

- Paula - NNY

June 19, 2008 5:53 p.m.

I was just curious if anyone has ever been so sensitive that they can actually feel conception taking place. Like, cramping and sore breasts...wouldn't this make sense due to the hormone fluctuation. Looking for some feedback...please help!

- Dreamer..

June 18, 2008 10:34 a.m.

i am 30 weeks along and went to the doctor yesterday and my blood pressure was 80 over 30. the doctor didnt really say much so im just w2ondering is this serious and what can i do to raise it back up??

- dani

June 9, 2008 7:40 a.m.

My daughter has epilepsy. She has been taking the drug Zonegran. I have not found much information on whether or not she should be careful about getting pregnant with this drug. She is 27 and in good health. She is presently seeing a doctor specializing in "research" and I am not comfortable with his wait and see approach. She was initially diagnosed with epilepsy at Mayo Clinic around 14 years ago. My wife and I are suggesting that her and her husband go to Mayo Clinic to get some pre-pregnancy counseling to more fully understand whether or not she should be on another drug, or possibly another consideration. Thanks for your time and consideration.

- Walter Slingsby

May 27, 2008 9:01 a.m.

can you get pregneat well breastfeeding?

- Denise

May 25, 2008 3:13 a.m.

Janine you did nothing that caused your baby harm. The lifting and other activities wouldn't have done anything to the baby's hips. It is possible he was breech for a long time. Please try not to feel guilty about your sons hips. It was out of your control.

- Mary Murry Mayoclinic.com

May 23, 2008 7:24 p.m.

Yolanda, You asked if it is possible to get pregnant while on the pill? Yes!! I have been on several different types from the pill to the patch and I have taken them as close to perfect as I can. I have gotten pregnant three times while on them. Guess it is time for a more permanent fix.

- Jennifer

May 22, 2008 2:31 p.m.

When my son was born his legs were notin their hip sockets. He was full term, delivered by a planned C-section. C-section was reccomended because his head was large and the umbilical cord was around his neck and he was a footling breach. I thought it was all my fault because I foolishly put in a brick patio when I was in my last weeks of pregnancy. I was lifting fifty pound bags of sand, working on my hands and knees, and it took half a pallet of bricks to complete the project. I did feel pressure below my rib cage and my belly felt tight. I would take breaks until this feelings passed. My question is, did I cause distress to my son and did I cause the complications of the pregnancy?

- Janine