Our shopping trip for nursery furniture was like a dream come true. I felt like I was looking on as some storybook tale unfolded before my eyes: The happy couple walked through the store, hand-in-hand, her cute pink top with a bow tied just above her swollen belly. Unlike so many such stories I’d glimpsed before, this one was my own. More than a dream, this chapter of our story was a vision of the future: Picking out our baby’s first bedroom set symbolized the kinds of parents we would become.

As we walked into the large nursery furniture store, we were smiling, yet determined; hopeful, yet realistic. We had a budget, knew what we wanted, and realized that finding just the right set might be a stretch. We were still able to enjoy the scenery—the miniature bedrooms set up far more perfectly than any real room. After careful scrutiny and deliberation, we decided on just the right pieces for our baby’s room. As parents, we’re optimistic, yet purposeful in how we make all kinds of decisions, from healthcare to clothing and feeding choices for our sons.

While we looked at the various sets, we looked past the overall effect and examined the quality, price, and pieces available. We didn’t want to choose something less expensive that would fall apart or be useless past the baby stage. At the same time, we didn’t want to spend twice as much as necessary. We bought a crib-and-dresser set that would grow with our baby; the crib would transition into a toddler bed and, later, a full-sized head board and foot board. Instead of a changing table, we bought a dresser that could work for an older child or even in a guest room. As parents, we’re practical and like to plan for long-term success.

During our first look at nursery furniture, we chose to take a self-guided tour. We wanted to be able to discuss the pros and cons of what we saw and pick out our favorites without pressure from someone else. Only after we chose a few sets with prices and options that we liked did we request customer service; after all, only we knew what would look best in our home’s decor and fit best in our particular space. When the sales woman approached us, we were able to utilize her expertise to decide among the options we were considering.

As parents, we do listen to the “experts,” but we also know what works for our family and can filter the advice that we receive through our own philosophy and goals. We were both happy with the dark hardwood crib and matching dresser that we chose. Its rounded corners would be safe, and its versatility and quality would make it last. When we left the store, still hand-in-hand, we knew that if our nursery furniture expedition was any indication, we’d be great parents, someday soon.

Women’s Center in Sidney, Ohio

Women’s Center-Sidney serves women in Shelby and Miami Counties (Ohio) and is located behind Culver’s Restaurant at 2579 Michigan Avenue near Wal-Mart in Sidney, Ohio.  Women can make a free initial appointment online by going to www.womenscenterohio.com. To schedule an appointment over the phone or to learn more about the services we provide, call 937-498-4425.  We can be reached by email at info@womenscenterohio.com.  All Women’s Center-Sidney’s services are free and confidential.

Many pregnant women realize that the main recurring expense they’ll have to face is paying for diapers. After all, they’ll probably be able to feed their baby for free for quite a while, and even after that, they won’t eat much. (It is kind of ironic that it’s the elimination part of digestion that ends up costing more!) If you find yourself fearful of the high costs you know come with diapering a child, take heart: There are definitely ways to save.

Consider the New Cloth Diapers

Before you roll your eyes, at least realize that today’s cloth diapers do not require pinning! Instead, today’s cloth diapers can be described as “cute” and “easy.” From all-in-one designs like this one from Bumkins to these fun pocket diapers from Happy Heinys, some designs are downright adorable! Most are also adjustable, using snaps or Velcro closures. The pockets in pocket diapers are meant to hold inserts such as these by FuzziBunz, which you’ll want to layer according to time of day and position according to gender needs.

Depending on the brand you choose and how many you purchase, you can expect to save at least $1,000 over the diapering lifetime of your baby. (Of course, that savings is multiplied if you have more than one child.) While the up-front cost of cloth diapers can be a bit of a shock, you’ll make up for it in the first 3-5 months of your baby’s life outside the womb.

Know Your Per-Diaper Prices

In addition to price, there are a few other factors you’ll want to consider, like a diaper’s absorbency and leak-proof qualities and your baby’s skin sensitivities. Even once you settle on a brand or three that you prefer, you’ll want to shop around for the best per-diaper price. When you purchase a small package of diapers, you’re more likely to spend more per diaper. For instance, the 88-count box of Pampers costs $0.08 more, per diaper, than the 120-count box, from the same seller on Amazon.

If you buy diapers at brick-and-mortar stores, clipping coupons and browsing sale flyers can be quite helpful. If you don’t get a newspaper, you can often find coupons online. In addition to grocery stores, you’ll want to look for ads at local drugstores and other retailers such as Dollar General, which often has a $5 printable coupon available for Friday or Saturday shopping trips. When you combine coupons with sale prices, you can sometimes beat the best per-diaper prices you can find online.

In addition to saving money directly by buying online, you can also save room in your already overflowing cart at the grocery store, trips to the store with a fussy baby, and even gas money it takes to make that extra trip to town. Depending on current shipping promotions, you may find the best diaper prices online at Target.com, Babiesrus.com, Diapers.com, or Amazon.com.

Whether you decide to go with cloth or shop around for deals on disposable diapers, you can save a bundle by planning ahead and starting to buy them now.

Womens Center East in Dayton, Ohio

Women’s Center-East Dayton is located at 4787 Burkhardt Avenue not far from Woodman Drive in Dayton, Ohio. We offer free pregnancy testing and free pregnancy ultrasounds to Dayton women. Women can make a free initial appointment online by going to www.womenscenterohio.com and going to the East Dayton location page. To schedule an appointment over the phone or to learn more about the services we provide, call 937-610-7777. We can be reached by email at info@womenscenterohio.com. All Women’s Center-East’s pregnancy services are free and confidential.

In case you haven’t figured it out by now, your pregnancy is unique. Not only is your own body one-of-a-kind, but so is your baby’s. While you can compare notes with other moms and moms-to-be, and even with your own previous pregnancies (if you’ve had any), none of these other experiences will precisely clue you in to what this pregnancy and little life growing inside you will be like. Unfortunately, some of us have to learn this truth the hard way. Yeah, I’m one of those.

As a first-time mom-to-be, I listened intently to all the advice of other moms and read all kinds of magazines and books about pregnancy and parenting. One popular title, called What to Expect When You’re Expecting was given to me by my doctor. Surely, this will be an excellent source of information, I foolishly thought. Like a student cramming for a weighted final exam, I poured over my new treasure—or at least I tried to. The organization of the book was a bit lacking, and the information was extensive. I felt overwhelmed and frustrated.

As I continued to read numerous articles and books and solicit others’ stories and opinions, I realized more and more that “facts” from one source constantly contradicted “facts” from other so-called expert sources. From finding morning sickness remedies to discerning my baby’s gender, predicting a true due date, and even bringing on labor, no one seemed to agree!

If anything, this frustration prepared me well for parenthood. If I thought the differing philosophies regarding pregnancy and child birth were daunting, I’m not even sure how I would describe the mountains of contradictory information regarding feeding, milestones, and other details about my baby’s first year!

Before I officially embarked on my journey of motherhood, I’m glad I started learning to take advice “with a grain of salt,” realizing that while others’ opinions all held value, they may or may not apply to my particular situation. I learned to start weighing opinions with various amounts of weight. For instance, OB’s advice rightfully earned a thorough hearing. Not only did he have a decade of education and three decades of experience under his belt, but he also listened intently to my questions and concerns and answered them thoroughly and graciously.

What about that forcefully opinionated mom with no medical background and only her own experience with one or two children from which to draw? I simply learned to smile and nod — even if she were a relative or close friend. The smiling and nodding routine has gotten me through more than a few conversations that could have otherwise turned into arguments or prompted unwarranted worries or even tears.

So what should you expect when you’re expecting? Lots of advice, much of it worthy of a smile and nod. What shouldn’t you expect? You shouldn’t expect anyone else to know what it’s like to carry your particular baby in your body. If anyone else tells you different, simply smile and nod.

Women’s Center in Sidney, Ohio

Women’s Center-Sidney is located behind Culver’s Restaurant at 2579 Michigan Avenue near Walmart in Sidney, Ohio. Women can make a free initial appointment online by going to www.womenscenterohio.com. To schedule an appointment over the phone or to learn more about the services we provide, call 937-498-4425. We can be reached by email at info@womenscenterohio.com. All Women’s Center-Sidney’s services are free and confidential.

The birth preparation I had done didn’t end up being useful in the way I had envisioned; however, it did teach me a valuable lesson that has helped me as a mom: As women, we have our plans and ideas of how we want life to go, but as moms, we have to learn to abandon them, sometimes. My first son started teaching me this lesson the day that he was born. I had to abandon my plans for a drug-free vaginal childbirth to have a Cesarean Section, instead.

My birth preparation had included attending a class held at the hospital, reading myriad books and articles, asking advice from friends. It also included writing out a birth plan; printed in a fun font and mounted on cute, baby-themed card stock, the carefully crafted document detailed the natural childbirth I hoped to have. My doctor had reviewed my intentions and agreed that it was both reasonable and wise. I felt like I had it all together!

As I packed my bag for the hospital, just days into my third trimester, my birth preparation took on a new dimension. I carefully checked off each important item on my list, which was filed neatly in the binder that contained my detailed plan and notes from the childbirth, newborn care, and breastfeeding classes I’d attended. In addition to the usual items on any woman’s list, my list included these things I’d read could help me achieve a natural childbirth with minimal pain:

• A birthing ball (really, an exercise ball)
• Massage oil, aromatherapy, and a few pretty things to use as focal points
• iPod, loaded with an instrumental “relaxation” playlist

My well-packed bag already in the truck, my due date finally arrived. I went to what I hoped would be my last weekly check. According to the doctor, my son’s head had been “in position” for at least a month, but he still hadn’t dropped. I wasn’t dilating, yet, either. The next day, though, contractions were close and regular enough to justify my going in. Within a few minutes of my doctor’s examining me, I was being admitted to the hospital, but not for the reason I had hoped: My baby had flipped to breech position, so he’d scheduled a C-section.

My carefully crafted plan was out the window, but that was okay: I’d be holding my baby boy soon. I surprised myself by feeling more euphoria than disappointment. I don’t regret the birth preparation that I did. At the same time, though, I’m glad I had the sense to let it go once I knew it wasn’t meant to be. I’m still learning that lesson, and the less I cling to my own plans and ideals, the better mom I am.

Women’s Center of East Dayton, Ohio

Women’s Center-East is located at 4787 Burkhardt Avenue not far from Woodman Drive in Dayton, Ohio. Women can make a free initial appointment online by going to www.womenscenterohio.com. To schedule an appointment over the phone or to learn more about the services we provide, call 937-610-7777. We can be reached by email at info@womenscenterohio.com. All Women’s Center-East’s services are free and confidential.

Exercising during pregnancy may not be on top of every pregnant woman’s priority list, but it is very important to incorporate throughout each stage of pregnancy. Many women may think why would I exercise throughout pregnancy, when I am going to gain weight anyway? Others may wonder what happens if I exercise too strenuously, and harm my pregnancy?

Let’s face it, excuses are easy to find during pregnancy, especially if you are worried about causing harm to your child. But exercising is actually very beneficial to YOU and your BABY, and here are some reasons why to help motivate you these next 9 months!

Exercise during pregnancy is beneficial because it:

• Increases your energy (which is much needed), and promotes good sleep
• Eases and/or prevents muscle or back pain
• Decreases risk of Gestational Diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression
• Enhances oxygen flow and increases nutrients to you and your baby, while decreasing fluid retention and risk of varicose veins.
• Builds endurance and strengthens muscles (helps prepare your body for whatever experience you may encounter during labor and delivery).
• Increase self-confidence of your and baby’s well-being
• Helps relax mind and body (especially an exercise such as yoga, etc).

Here are some tips for healthy exercising during pregnancy:

• Always make sure to ask your doctor whether it is safe for you and baby to begin or continue an exercise regimen.
• Pace yourself! If you are a beginner, start at 10 min of moderate exercise and work your way up to 30 min/day.
• Walking is great for beginners. Other exercises that may also be fun are; swimming, rowing, yoga, and cycling on a stationary bike.
• Get motivated! Sign up for an aerobics class (or any other moderate intensity class), so you can have a partner to keep you accountable.
• If you regularly exercised prior to pregnancy, you can continue the same level of intensity throughout your workout (avoid overheating and heavy lifting). Remember to ask your doctor first.
• Do not participate in dangerous exercising, such as hiking in high altitudes, skiing, etc.
• Remember to stay hydrated and avoid overheating. Do NOT over exhaust yourself; this is not the time to be intensifying your workout!

Check out this website for more information, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pregnancy-and-exercise/PR00096.

Women’s Center-Sharonville is a pregnancy resource center that offers support and solutions for unexpected pregnancies to women in the northern Cincinnati area including Evendale and Mason. Women’s Center-Sharonville provides women with free pregnancy tests, ultrasound scans, prenatal vitamins, consulting on pregnancy decisions and an educational and material assistance program. To contact Women’s Center-Sharonville, call 513-563-6100 or email info@womenscenterohio.com. You can make an appointment online by visiting www.womenscenterohio.com.

YES! if you are in good health and the pregnancy is normal.

BUT ALWAYS … consult your healthcare provider first.

Moderate physical activity is considered thoroughly safe and extremely beneficial for most expectant mothers as well as their babies.

What are the benefits of exercising while pregnant?
• Increases energy and fights fatigue
• Can improve general well-being
• Reduces back aches
• Reduces constipation
• Reduces bloating and swelling
• Improves sleep
• Increases endurance, stamina and muscle strength to prepare for labor
• Can counteract trend toward decreasing fitness due to less movement with weight gain
• Helps to improve balance problems
• Helps to ward off leg cramps
• Reduces stress
• Reduces risk of gestational diabetes, pregnancy related high blood pressure and post partum depression
• Helps the return to pre-pregnancy weight and shape after the birth of the baby

What kinds of exercises can I safely do?
• Walking at a brisk pace
• Swimming in shallow water that is neither too hot nor too cold
• Water workouts designed especially for pregnancy
• Cycling on a stationary bike at a comfortable tension and speed
• Step machine at comfortable tension or stair climbing
• Rowing machine at a comfortable tension and speed
• Calisthenics designed for pregnancy
• Yoga designed for pregnancy
• Pelvic toning (Kegel exercises)
• Relaxation routines

What are rules of safe pregnancy exercise?
• Check with healthcare provider first
• Take in extra calories – but not too many
• Steer clear of dangerous sports such as skiing, sit-ups or anything with high impact
• Wear clothes that are comfortable and not constricting
• Warm up first
• Drink plenty of water
• Don’t lie flat on your back
• Keep moving
• Don’t overdo it – stop when you begin to feel fatigued
• Don’t get overheated
• Get up from the floor slowly
• Cool down
• Make it a habit
• Avoid exercise outdoors in hot and humid conditions

What are warning signs that signal that I should stop exercising?
• Vaginal bleeding
• Dizziness or feeling faint
• Increased shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Headache
• Muscle weakness
• Calf pain or swelling
• Uterine contractions
• Decreased fetal movement
• Fluid leaking from the vagina

Exercise during pregnancy has many benefits for you and your baby. Just remember to use caution. Your balance changes due to the weight of the baby in front of you so balance is an important issue. Again before you exercise, consult your healthcare provider. And enjoy!!!

All statements made in this article are informational and not intended to provide medical advice or replace care from a qualified medical practitioner.

Women’s Center-Sidney is located behind Culver’s Restaurant at 2579 Michigan Avenue near Wal-Mart in Sidney, Ohio. Women can make a free initial appointment online by going to www.womenscenterohio.com. To schedule an appointment over the phone or to learn more about the services we provide, call 937-498-4425. We can be reached by email at info@womenscenterohio.com. All Women’s Center-Sidney’s services are free and confidential.

What is most important in life?

Kali is 28, has a 6-year-old son and has been divorced for several years. She is a beautiful petite brunette who recently had a tummy tuck and breast enhancement so she could go farther in her modeling career. Kali prides herself as being a very responsible young lady. She took a pregnancy test at home and it was positive. While searching online she found our website (www.womenscenterohio.com) and wanted to talk about her options. So she and her boyfriend Marc came in for a pregnancy test and for help sorting through her decision. Here are some things weighing on her mind.

1. She just invested a lot of money fixing her body so she could do more modeling.
2. She has only been in this relationship for 6 months and she knows her family will be upset.
3. Kali’s son has told her a million times that he doesn’t want a baby brother or sister.
4. The father of the baby, Marc, is 6 years younger than she and has just graduated from college.
5. When Kali talked about marriage, Marc seemed very surprised.
6. Kala had an ultrasound but viability could not be confirmed, meaning she might be miscarrying naturally.

What do you think is important to Kali? What do you think Kali should do? What could she have done differently to not be in this difficult position?
Helping newly pregnant women think through their options is what we do every day at Women’s Center-East in Dayton, Ohio.

Women’s Center-East is located at 4787 Burkhardt Avenue not far from Woodman Drive in Dayton, Ohio. Women can make a free initial appointment online by going to www.womenscenterohio.com. To schedule an appointment over the phone or to learn more about the services we provide, call 937-610-7777. We can be reached by email at info@womenscenterohio.com. All Women’s Center-East’s services are free and confidential.

Planned or not, a pregnancy is time for change, celebration and surprises. The below list is just a sampling of the adventures ahead. Ask our doctor about any concerns you have; they may not mention something just because there is so much to cover.

Nesting, Concentration and Mood Swings

A new mother finds the urge to clean and decorate overwhelming near the end of pregnancy. Sometimes these urges cause issues with concentration along with hormones, sleep deprivation and illness. All of this blinder vision complicates mood swings throughout the pregnancy. A woman who has PMS symptoms regularly before pregnancy will exhibit impressive mood swings. Keep a calendar for the forgetfulness; try to communicate your feelings no matter what and be careful with all that cleaning.

Changes from Head to Toes

Throughout your pregnancy, hormones will run rampant. The effects of these extra hormones show up physically in your hair, nails, skin and feet, just to name a few. Women experience longer hair and nail growth, along with texture changes. After pregnancy, hair and nails should return to normal. Acne often returns during pregnancy because the body produces more oils. Lastly, your feet will retain water weight and possible grow a size or two. They may shrink after pregnancy, or they may not.

Whatever changes your body goes through, the most noticeable will be your tummy. That growing bump will be the source of joys and sorrows for years to come. Try not to sweat the surprises of pregnancy and enjoy this magical time of life.

Learn more about Womens Center Ohio:

• Sidney, Ohio pregnancy services
• Morning after pill information
• Free ultrasounds in Dayton, Ohio

Babies are often associated with peace, joy and happiness. However, newborns and their parents are often anything but peaceful, joyous and happy. A new baby can blow a marriage wide open. Any insecurity can become insurmountable if a couple does not face them together. The key to any of these issues is communication. Even when your belly is the biggest thing in the world, do not stop communicating and listening to your partner.

Prepare A Game Plan

The first week or so of nights both parents will jerk awake at the sound of the baby crying. This will fade, and they may start waiting for the other person to wake up and care for the baby, while they pretend to be asleep. Prepare a game plan ahead of time for who will do what and when. Perhaps you choose to have shifts or turns. Either way, make sure both of you are shouldering the night time responsibilities.

Accept Your Differences

Moms react very differently to the first baby than fathers do. Acknowledging that you and your partner are experiencing different emotions throughout the pregnancy is a very good idea. You, the mama-to-be, are all the about the baby. Nothing goes through your head that does not contain some shred of baby. You want to shop for clothes, paint the nursery, go to classes, read books, practically do anything you can to be prepared. Your partner is not pregnant. They can focus on other things in life, and they should, because they do not have a baby growing inside of them. Both of you need to be open and honest about feelings, fears and desires. Set up a time each day to discuss these things and actually listen to each other.

Confront Postpartum Issues

Postpartum depression has become much more acknowledged in the past few decades. The likelihood of a mother having this depends on her circumstances, her pregnancy and genetics. However, this depressive issue is not the only postpartum topic a couple should prepare for. Sexual intimacy after birth may take a nose dive for a while. New moms are thinking about everything but sex. This fact does not mean a couple cannot show their love intimately. Remember to talk to your partner about how you are feeling and how this may differ from their needs. Focus on the lighter intimate things like holding hands, cuddling and having quiet affectionate time together. These things keep intimacy alive.

Present A United Front

This United Front is specifically referring to in-laws and family members. Both of you need to be on the same page when it comes to visitors and baby sitters. You and the baby can become easily overwhelmed these first few weeks and months. Take it slowly and be firm but kind with overbearing family members.

Overall, the secret to your marriage surviving this baby is communication. Carefully listen and respect your partner and expect the same from them. You both are capable adults; one little baby should not scare you too much.

Women’s Center-East Dayton is located at 4787 Burkhardt Avenue not far from Woodman Drive in Dayton, Ohio. We offer free pregnancy testing and free pregnancy ultrasounds to Dayton women. Women can make a free initial appointment online by going to www.womenscenterohio.com and going to the East Dayton location page. To schedule an appointment over the phone or to learn more about the services we provide, call 937-610-7777. We can be reached by email at info@womenscenterohio.com. All Women’s Center-East’s pregnancy services are free and confidential.

Exercising their “Right to Choose,” many young women have fallen prey to less-than-health-promoting medical care when they go in for abortions. Many such women are already victims, sometimes of dysfunctional homes or statutory rape or even molestation. They often lack the kind of physical, emotional, and financial maturity and stability that would enable them to raise a child. Instead of helping these girls deal with the trauma leading to their unplanned pregnancies and preparing them to make informed decisions, “pro-choice” advocates steer them straight toward abortionists, misleading them to think that this “procedure” will have no lasting results.

Sometimes a woman’s parents, molester, or boyfriend insist on an abortion, leading the mother to think that she has no say. She needs to know that she has the ultimate power to choose her baby’s fate; no one has the right to decide that for her. Abortion-alternative pregnancy centers can help give her a safe place to stay and prenatal care, if she decides to keep the baby and lacks the support she needs. They can either guide her through the process of choosing her child’s adoptive family through open adoption or help prepare and mentor her as she takes on the challenge of motherhood herself.

While many women know that one-time black-market abortions often bore difficult consequences, they do not realize that even legal, clinical abortions come with risks. In 1990, abortionist Dr. Abu Hayat was revealed to have amputated the arm of a little girl he failed to abort. Once Donohue interviewed Ana Rosa’s parents, more victims of his clinic came forward. Stories of sexual abuse, malpractice, and unethical business practices would be eclipsed by the story of a 17-year-old patient of his whom he sent home to die after complications relating to an abortion he performed.

Another NAF (National Abortion Federation) member, Dr. Abraham Alberto Hodari, has been cited for similar offenses. Accusations of results of his care include many fatalities, incomplete abortions, hysterectomies, and other surgeries stemming from abortions he performed.

The kinds of violations of proper health care practice that have led to deaths and other risk-infused practices of doctors like Hodari and Hayat are unfortunately far from rare. As one journalist put it, “Legal abortion has moved from the back alley to the front parlor. The process is still unsafe, only the profits are a lot bigger.”

Even if an abortion is performed in a sterile, safe environment under the care of ethical physicians, the long-term effects can include physical and emotional trauma much later in life. Women considering abortions have a right to be informed and to be faced with the implications of their choices. Once they understand the risks and issues involved, they should be assured that their choice is simply that: It’s theirs, and no one else’s.