Herbal medicine is specific category of health-care. Many herbs, including essential oils, are safe and beneficial during the childbearing year, while others can be dangerous. Pregnant women must be cautious with any remedies, especially during the first trimester when the fetus is most vulnerable. There’s a lot of misinformation concerning herbs. Here are lists of commonly used herbs that are considered safe and unsafe through pregnancy and postpartum.
Category: Pregnancy
Breech Baby – What You Can Do Prenatally
“Breech” is a term describing your baby as head-up rather than the optimal head-down position. Breech position is not uncommon in the middle of pregnancy and most babies turn head down toward the end. Some turn during labour. A baby coming bottom first can have more difficulty being born and while a caesarean birth may be suggested, there are many doctors willing to catch breech babies. For now let’s focus on turning the baby. The best time to turn the baby is around 35 weeks.
Baby Movements / Fetal Kick-Counts
Awareness of your baby’s movement is an important and non-invasive assessment of fetal well-being. Basically, activity is reassuring and decrease or cessation is worrisome. “Kick count” is the counting and tracking of fetal movement – kicks, flutters, swishes, jabs or rolls. Mothers learn normal patterns for their baby such as sleep cycles, times of activity and triggers. It’s also a way to bond and connect.
If you’ve been busy or are unsure about movement relax and have a meal, a small glass of juice or some fruit. Palpate your baby to induce movement. Pay attention to the movements. Babies sleep. If your blood sugar is low then so is your baby’s. You should feel at least 10 movements over 2 hours (it usually takes much less time), and at least one movement in the first hour.
Keeping a journal of kick counts beginning at 28 weeks provides valuable information.
Instructions
- Be properly hydrated and fed.
- Ideally start the kick count at about the same time daily; think of it as a baby-date.
- Rest when you do the kick counts, by sitting or lying on your left side.
- Note the date, start time and the time at which the 10th movement takes place.
- Calculate the total time for 10 movements.
- Keep notes in the same place to see patterns emerge. Any method works. Below is an example of a chart and one of a log.
Contact your midwife, doctor, or go to the birth unit at your local hospital immediately if:
- You have followed the recommendations above and have not felt 10 kicks in 2 hours.
- There’s a significant change in the pattern over the 3 to 4 days.
- Your baby has a significant or sudden change in movements.
- You have concerns.
Example of a Kick Counts Log
Note the date/week of gestation, and start time. Count or jot down a √ or x for 10 movements. Note the finish time, and total time. Keep an eye on patters with the total time.
Week #32
Mon 9:00 XXXXXXXXXX 9:32 Total: 32 min
Tues 12:00 XXXXXXXXXX 12:45 Total: 45 min
Wed 9:00 XXXXXXXXXX 9:55 Total: 55 min
Thurs 9:00 XXXXXXXXXX 9:45 Total: 45 min
Fri 9:30 XXXXXXXXXX 10:05 Total: 35 min
Sat 9:15 XXXXXXXXXX 10:05 Total: 50 min
Sun 10:00 XXXXXXXXXX 14:15 Total: 4 hr, 15 min
Note the significant change in total time. In this case you would seek medical attention on Sunday.
Kick Count- Blank Tracking Sheet (pdf)
Kick Count Chart – example (pdf)
Pregnancy & Birth Support, Online Prenatal Classes & Preparation 