pregnant_(vm) Tag

Lack of sleep is one of the many challenges women face during pregnancy, particularly because of the changing hormone levels and the need to provide infant care. In fact, 66 to 94 percent of pregnant women report disturbances in sleep, according to research published in the Obstetric Medicine Journal (1). Sleep problems can have serious consequences for expecting mothers. Here are a few reasons why pregnant women should pay more attention to their sleeping patterns.

By Rachel Spurrier When I was discharged from the hospital after having my first child, I was given a “welcome home” packet with information about how to care for my newborn, breastfeeding advice, warning signs to look out for in the immediate days postpartum, and general advice about my new postpartum body.  In the fog of new motherhood and extreme sleep deprivation, I barely touched the pages of literature that were there to “aid” me. I spent the initial postpartum days hobbling around our NYC apartment trying to figure out how to swaddle my baby, change his diapers, and breastfeed, all while trying to wean myself off pain medication I was given to help me cope with my badly bruised tailbone, tearing, and my episiotomy.  

Ah, the vagina! One of the most celebrated parts of a woman’s body and for good reason. Vaginas are fierce and have made a comeback in pop culture as the unofficial mascot for some modern Internet feminist movements and even politicians! From Vagina Monologues to vagina Halloween costumes, it seems that every day more and more people are becoming open to seeing and talking about vaginas. But few women, and even fewer men, are open enough to talk about some of the problems that women may face with their vaginas, such as vaginal prolapse.

Your body undergoes many changes during the pregnancy and postpartum period. These changes are common, like having painful sex after delivery, but should not be considered your new normal. Many of these changes can be successfully treated conservatively—without surgery or medication, through pelvic floor physical therapy visits and a home program. In this True or False Article, we demystify sex after the baby.

By Julie Sacks, Meditation Teacher & Well-being Entrepreneur It’s that time of year when we all think about setting our intentions for the year ahead. Wouldn’t it be great if we could commit to just one life changing habit that would naturally help all our other goals fall into place? Well, I believe that one habit is meditation. If meditation were a pill, we would all take it. It has no downside, only an upside. There are numerous benefits, such as better sleep, stress management, slowing down the aging process and increased energy and productivity – just to name a few. The countless benefits of meditation have been well documented by many credible sources, including Harvard Medical School, UCLA, NYT’s and CNN.