How to Prevent Heartburn during Pregnancy
One of the most recognized symptoms of pregnancy, heartburn can be an annoying side effect for many pregnant women. Some women during pregnancy will experience a mild burn in their throat or chest. Other women might experience heartburn as a lump in their throat.
Heartburn during pregnancy can be very uncomfortable. Luckily, there are several things you can do to minimize your chances of suffering from this annoying condition!
First and foremost, rather than eating three large meals a day you should try to eat several small meals throughout the day. This can help prevent heartburn and allow you to focus on the baby, NOT how uncomfortable you feel!
Some women find that chewing a stick of gum after a meal helps with heartburn because it’s thought that gum helps neutralize excess stomach acid. Yogurt and milk are also great foods that can help women suffering from heartburn during pregnancy. Experiment and find what works for you, but avoid your “trigger foods” (foods that always seem to bring on heartburn) altogether!
If dietary changes aren’t doing anything to eliminate your heartburn, speak with your doctor about over the counter heartburn products that are safe to use during pregnancy. While OTC antacids are generally considered safe for pregnant women, your doctor will be able to best advise you on a treatment plan.
Rest assured that your heartburn wont last forever! Following the birth of your baby, your heartburn should dramatically diminish or cease altogether.
How Fathers can Deal with the Arrival of a Baby
The arrival of a new baby takes adjustment. Fathers might feel overwhelmed, unsure or insecure about their parenting skills, and adjusting to a new life with your baby can seem like a daunting task.
A lot of fathers find it hard to relate to their partners after going through the miraculous ordeal of childbirth. How do you react? What do you say? It all seems so unfamiliar.
Luckily, there are several things fathers can do to deal with the arrival of a new baby and transition from being an individual to being a dad.
First of all, ensure the mother of your new baby is taken care of and comfortable. She just went through giving birth - it’s time for her to be pampered for a bit! New fathers should try to do whatever they can to ensure mother and baby are comfortable and content after the birth.
Additionally, you’ll have to start balancing work obligations with family obligations - you have a little one to care for now! The most important thing you can do at this point is to be supportive of the mother and make sure her and the baby’s needs are met.
Stock up on everything your baby is likely to need prior to giving birth. The last thing you want to do after you leave the hospital is run to the store to pick up diapers or formula! You may even consider talking with other dad’s about how you are feeling and what you should expect upon the arrival of the baby.
A lot of men feel uncomfortable discussing their emotions with other people, but you will be surprised how helpful it can be to discuss what you are feeling with other dad’s who have already been through the process and will be able to guide you through it, as well.
New fathers often face a lot of overwhelming pressure to measure up to society’s expectations of what a good father is supposed to be. You can ease your feelings of nervousness, doubt and anxiety by speaking with other fathers who have already been through the process and generally being as supportive as you can.
It will take some time to adjust to having a child in the house, but eventually you’ll realize it was all worth it.
