Q: Last night my husband and I were having sex, and I think the baby moved! It was such a strange sensation. Does that mean we shouldn't be intimate anymore? I'm in my third trimester. A: The baby couldn't care less if you have sex, climb stairs, or do anything that jostles him. If you're having …
Q: I've been to a few parties this winter where I can smell smoke from a fire in the fireplace. I've read that breathing smoke can be harmful for a fetus. How seriously should I take that warning? A: Burning wood in the fireplace is generally safe during pregnancy, if the chimney is operating …
Q: My mother is against breastfeeding and my husband is very pro-breastfeeding. What can I do to deal with their different opinions? A: You're not alone in experiencing this generational divide. Our mothers, and even their mothers before them, likely didn't breastfeed. Today, we know the health …
Q: My co-workers constantly tell me my desires and preferences for labor aren't going to happen - how can I handle that? A: Your workplace may not be the right environment to share birth preferences or post-natal priorities. Birth is very personal. After all, it's part of our human sexuality and …
Q: I apply a generous amount of baby oil gel on my tummy and breasts one to two times a day to prevent stretch marks. Will the absorption of the product do any harm to me or to my baby? Will baby oil gel even prevent stretch marks? A: Baby oil is safe to use externally as a moisturizer, and …
Q: Is it OK if I occasionally skip my prenatal vitamin? In my first trimester, I would avoid it if I was feeling particularly nauseous that day. And, honestly, sometimes I just forget. I’ve never been a regular vitamin-taker. Can I get the nutrients in it by changing my diet, instead? A: Of …
Q: I’m a singer in two rock bands, surrounded by extremely loud music several times a week. I read that a mom’s noisy job can lead to retardation and hearing loss in her baby. Even though stars like Gwen Stefani tour while pregnant, I feel there’s no comparison—my speakers and the …
Q: My blood type is negative. I’ve heard this might complicate my pregnancy. What do I need to know? A: What you’re referring to is your Rhesus type or Rh factor. Two things typically characterize blood type: the letters O, A, B, or AB and positive or negative Rh status. Because a baby’s …
Q: I recently had a root canal. I probably got pregnant during the next week, based on how far along I am, but I didn’t know it then, so I took three Vicodin on three separate days to help with the pain. Could this have caused harm to my baby? A: You’re in the clear. Vicodin is a combination …
Q: I have discharge that smells bad down there. Is that normal? A: Because this could indicate an infection, a foul-smelling discharge should prompt you to get an exam from the doctor. But there are a few “normal” causes for an unpleasant vaginal odor when you’re pregnant. First, a change …
