Mandatory Drug Testing for All Pregnant Women Is the Stupidest Idea Ever

dinsdag 17 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Adriana Velez 2 hours ago

Great news for women expecting babies in Indiana: Drug tests for everyone! Cheers! Indiana's attorney general Greg Zoeller is proposing mandatory drug testing for all pregnant women and girls. It's about money, supposedly. Zoeller says screening pregnant women for drugs could save the state $30 million in hospital fees for treating infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) -- babies born addicted to drugs, in other words.

Okay ... if this highly intrusive abuse of human rights really were in the interest of helping drug-dependent women and girls get treatment, I could see how it might be almost justifiable. But come on, can you think of any other group of people who are subject to mandatory drug testing without probable cause? If you were pregnant, would you be okay with this?

Apparently Indiana doesn't have the greatest history in the way it treats pregnant women with drug dependency. You're more likely to get criminalized than to get help, which means another baby in the system and another woman in prison. And that sounds more expensive.

I worry that if at-risk women and girls know drug testing is mandatory during pregnancy, they'll be less likely to seek the treatment they need throughout their pregnancy. Because they're not seeing a doctor (which is already a big problem among low-income women especially), other health problems will go untreated, resulting in problems with delivery and health issues for their babies. All this because they're afraid a drug test will land them in jail.

I'm sure plenty of women will read this and say, "Well, if you're not taking drugs, you have nothing to worry about." But I can't be that selfish and short-sighted.

What is it about being pregnant that suddenly makes you less of a human in some people's eyes? Why don't we trust pregnant women? Why are they treated more like property or dependents? I hope AG Zoeller's proposal fails.

Do you think there should be mandatory drug testing for pregnant women and girls?

Image via Jeremy/Flickr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Adriana Velez

is a staff writer who dabbles in food, parenting, news, entertainment, molecular biology, and anything else that that pops into her head. She lives with her elementary school-aged son in Brooklyn, land of urban farms and artisan everything.  

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Wife Tells Marine Husband She’s Pregnant in Most Adorable Way (VIDEO)

dinsdag 3 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Nicole Fabian-Weber 2 hours ago

What could possibly be more exciting than being reunited with your Marine husband after his at-sea period? Oh, I know! Getting to tell him you're pregnant in a super adorable, super creative way -- and getting his epic reaction on tape!

You have to check out this incredibly touching video of a military wife surprising her husband with the news that they're expecting a baby. Oh, and the onesie apparently says "Daddy's Hero" on it. You'll know what I'm talking about after you watch.

Check it out:

Is this great or what? Love that this woman did this -- and positively love her husband's awesome reaction. Congrats, you guys!

How adorable is this?!

Image via kelseyjulian/YouTube

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Did Cop Who Punched 'Pregnant' Woman Use Too Much Force?

vrijdag 30 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Rebecca Stokes 13 hours ago

The police have issued a statement regarding their recent controversial arrest of a 16-year-old teen boy and his 21-year-old sister, Brenda Hardaway, who claims to be pregnant. The story garnered public notice when a video was released of the sister being arrested with what appears to be an undue amount of violence. In the video, she tells the officer she is pregnant as he attempts to cuff her. Eventually, the officer punches her in the head and moves her forcibly to the ground. The Rochester Police argue this claim, saying that their officers acted with "tremendous restraint."

The reason the officers gave for their arrest tactics? They claim that the pregnant woman had pointed a can of pepper spray at them. However, if that is indeed what took place, it wasn't captured on the video which later made its way to YouTube.

Police officers find themselves in high-risk situations every day. Many have lost their lives as they try to do their job and keep the streets safe. Seen from that perspective, you could argue that the police officer was doing what he saw necessary to prevent harm.

Of course, there are times when forceful methods can and should be used when apprehending suspects. If a woman is pointing a gun at a crowd, would you expect the police to keep their hands off of her simply because she is pregnant? No. You wouldn't.

But watching the video a second time, it's harder to believe that this was an instance where the correct amount of force was used. Even if the woman did threaten him with pepper spray, she was well subdued after the fact. The punching and subsequent behavior just seems like it was driven by panic and anger.

Do you think the officer used too much force in this case?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rebecca Stokes

Rebecca is a writer who lives in Brooklyn with her cats. She is probably even at this moment spilling food on herself.

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Woman Wakes Up From Coma to Find Out She Is Three Months Pregnant

maandag 26 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Sasha Brown-Worsham 6 hours ago

In an amazing story out of England, a woman woke up from a coma to discover that she was 12 weeks pregnant with a child who managed to miraculously survive the moped crash that put his mother in the hospital. Now, her baby is 12 weeks old and despite massive head injuries that left her unable to remember the previous three years of her life (including who the father was), Gemma Holmes is thrilled to have a healthy son.

The details are almost too grim to believe. Holmes was tossed from her moped into a lamppost and was not expected to survive the traumatic crash. Her mother was told she was 12 weeks pregnant and advised to make the decision to terminate. But it was not a decision her mother felt comfortable making.

Miraculously, Holmes pulled through and was able to continue the pregnancy and give birth to a healthy son through C-section. She named her son Ruben Miracle. The reasons are obvious.

"I just thought that if this little baby inside me had managed to survive the awful crash then he was meant to be," Gemma told The Daily Mail. 

It was not an easy pregnancy, either. She was unable to take high dose pain killer for her accident because she was with child so she endured a lot of pain because of it. Still, she persevered.

I will never complain about pregnancy again. Both she and her son are so lucky, but I am in awe of a woman who was so brave and did so much to bring her child into the world. Good for her.

It is also amazing that her mother kept the faith and believed enough not to terminate the pregnancy. She is a huge part of the reason baby Ruben exists. It takes an awful lot of faith to make that leap, but what a good decision.

I can't even imagine the pain she might have felt upon waking to hear she was pregnant and her mother decided to terminate. This story is a true miracle, something we don't get to hear every day.

What an amazing little boy.

Would you have made that same decision if you were the mom?

Image via Aslak Raanes /Flickr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sasha Brown-Worsham

can't decide whether she is a mother, writer, or runner, but is usually all three at some point each day. She has written for dozens of print magazines, newspapers, and websites. She rarely ever writes on bathroom walls.

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Pregnant 'Twerking' Is All the Rage -- Are You Doing It? (VIDEO)

vrijdag 16 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Mary Fischer 16 hours ago

It's the latest dance craze that probably won't be going away anytime soon -- and apparently it's gotten so popular that even pregnant women are twerking and posting videos of themselves shaking their thing.

Yep -- twerking. As in wiggling their hips, jiggling their butts, and thrusting their pelvises in and out.

You gotta love it. Check it out.

Ahh! All I have to say is -- mama's got some serious moves!

Let's face it -- pregnancy is probably the least sexy period of time in any woman's life, or at least it was for me. Once I got past the first trimester, I felt like a big, sweaty blimp who bordered on the lines of being totally repulsive. Sexy definitely wasn't a word that was in my vocabulary at that point in time -- but maybe I would've felt a little differently if I'd gotten my twerk on?

If nothing else, at least shaking it in front of the camera would've brought a little more fun and excitement into those long days -- and I'm sure my husband and I would get a huge kick out of watching the clips now. (Though he'd probably never let me live them down.)

At least today's twerking moms-to-be have an awesome pregnancy memento to bust out at the most inappropriate time to embarrass the heck out of their kids down the road. OMG -- can you imagine the looks on their teenager's faces if they bust out the videos on prom night?

That would be classic.

Have you twerked during your pregnancy?

Image via ABCNews

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Fischer

is the writer behind The Mommyologist, and the mom of a future famous comedian. Her current loves include cosmopolitans, reality TV, and shoes that don't pinch her feet.

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My Paranoia About Getting Pregnant Is Causing Big Problems in the Bedroom

dinsdag 6 augustus 2013

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by The Stir Bloggers 13 hours ago

Ever since the first time I had sex, I've been afraid. Not of the sex, please. Just like any other woman with a healthy libido -- I enjoy the sex. What I don't enjoy is what can happen because of sex. Nope, not a commitment-phobe. I am, however, frightened of becoming pregnant.

The answer to your question is yes. At some point or another, I'm going to want a child. At that point, when hopefully I'm married, financially stable, and prepared -- that child will be my everything. But now? For the past 10 years? No. I'm just not ready. Nowhere close.

The fear, it's cautionary and a little irrational. Despite being on the pill for years and years now, I rarely have unprotected sex. In a three-year relationship that ended not all that long ago, I could count those risque encounters on one hand.

And you know what? I think it's safe to say that my fear drives every single man I ever date insane. Who am I kidding? It's driving me insane, too.

Sex is an intimate thing. It's a close thing. At the end of the day: It's a big deal. It's frustrating, knowing that for so many people without this fear, getting hot and heavy is spontaneous. It's fun. It can be done anywhere, anytime, without a care in the world. For me, though, I do care. Even if STDs were non-existent, I get anxiety every time my partner and I do the deed without that extra protection. To be really frank with you: Pull out or stop. It's not just any anxiety, either. This anxiety prevents me from continuing on in my day-to-day life.

However, I'm human. In the moment, it's easy to say "screw it" (and me) and let's just go for it instead of hopping over to the drug store. So what results? The next morning, I immediately regret it. I think, Is this the time a pregnancy test will come out positive? I wonder when my last period was. When my next one should be. I wonder if I should get Plan B. I get mad at myself. Eventually later that week, I may buy a pregnancy test.

Is it bad that I'm this way? Yes and no. I've been in a relationship where my overcautious attitude annoyed my partner too much (read: he didn't want to use protection all the time) and we went our separate ways. I understand. I'm sure that it's easier to be with a woman who is on a birth control pill that she trusts and doesn't freak out after a spontaneous sexcapade. 

Still, I'd rather be too cautious. The right man and partner won't get angry with me about my mentality. I'd like to stick with the attitude that if my companion can't accept that I'm trying to do us both a favor, he and I don't need to have an intimate relationship in the first place.

Can you relate?

Image via plaits/Flickr

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My Paranoia About Getting Pregnant Is Causing Big Problems in the Bedroom

maandag 5 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by The Stir Bloggers 4 hours ago

Ever since the first time I had sex, I've been afraid. Not of the sex, please. Just like any other woman with a healthy libido -- I enjoy the sex. What I don't enjoy is what can happen because of sex. Nope, not a commitment-phobe. I am, however, frightened of becoming pregnant.

The answer to your question is yes. At some point or another, I'm going to want a child. At that point, when hopefully I'm married, financially stable, and prepared -- that child will be my everything. But now? For the past 10 years? No. I'm just not ready. Nowhere close.

The fear, it's cautionary and a little irrational. Despite being on the pill for years and years now, I rarely have unprotected sex. In a three-year relationship that ended not all that long ago, I could count those risque encounters on one hand.

And you know what? I think it's safe to say that my fear drives every single man I ever date insane. Who am I kidding? It's driving me insane, too.

Sex is an intimate thing. It's a close thing. At the end of the day: It's a big deal. It's frustrating, knowing that for so many people without this fear, getting hot and heavy is spontaneous. It's fun. It can be done anywhere, anytime, without a care in the world. For me, though, I do care. Even if STDs were non-existent, I get anxiety every time my partner and I do the deed without that extra protection. To be really frank with you: Pull out or stop. It's not just any anxiety, either. This anxiety prevents me from continuing on in my day-to-day life.

However, I'm human. In the moment, it's easy to say "screw it" (and me) and let's just go for it instead of hopping over to the drug store. So what results? The next morning, I immediately regret it. I think, Is this the time a pregnancy test will come out positive? I wonder when my last period was. When my next one should be. I wonder if I should get Plan B. I get mad at myself. Eventually later that week, I may buy a pregnancy test.

Is it bad that I'm this way? Yes and no. I've been in a relationship where my overcautious attitude annoyed my partner too much (read: he didn't want to use protection all the time) and we went our separate ways. I understand. I'm sure that it's easier to be with a woman who is on a birth control pill that she trusts and doesn't freak out after a spontaneous sexcapade. 

Still, I'd rather be too cautious. The right man and partner won't get angry with me about my mentality. I'd like to stick with the attitude that if my companion can't accept that I'm trying to do us both a favor, he and I don't need to have an intimate relationship in the first place.

Can you relate?

Image via plaits/Flickr

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10 Rude Things People Say to Pregnant Moms Already With Big Families

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AppId is over the quota

The first two times I was pregnant, people were generally pretty polite and nice to me. Sure, I had the occasional tummy rub from a stranger and a couple of questioning looks when I looked more chunky than preggo in the early months, but mostly people were gracious, sweet, and congratulatory.

My third pregnancy, seven years AFTER my first, has been a little different. It might be because for many people I know who are educated, liberal types, having more than two children biologically is considered bad and selfish. Or maybe it's just because for a lot of people who have trouble conceiving, a third (or fourth or fifth) pregnancy just feels greedy.

Whatever the reason, I have had some stunningly rude comments about my baby bump this time, and I asked around and most of my friends with 2+ kids have heard similar things. Here are the 10 rudest things we have heard:

1.) "Do you actually know where babies come from?" This gem came to me via a friend of a friend. I so wanted to point out that that there are five years between my last and my second to last because I know VERY well where babies come from and this baby was very deliberate and planned.

2.) "Uh-oh, now you can't call yourself an environmentalist, you are going to need a big gas guzzler." This one angers me because it's usually said by some smug hippy who has no clue. We are actually never going to get an SUV. We may get a minivan down the line, but for now, we are going to fit just fine in our non-gas guzzling vehicles.

3.) "Couldn't you have adopted? The world is so overpopulated already?" Anyone who says this clearly has no idea how difficult it is to adopt. My husband and I had actually always planned to have two and then adopt a third, but when we started filling out the paperwork and looking into it, it was an incredibly daunting, potentially painful, and very expensive endeavor. I respect anyone who can go through with it so very, very much. But it wasn't for us. And it's not for anyone to assume it's easy, either.

4.) "Haven't you heard of ZPG?" Yep. Zero population growth. I've heard of it. I guess I really am just a selfish, resource sucking jerk. But hey, at least I am not totally uncouth, judgmental, and sanctimonious!

5.) Nothing at all. I have had more than one person in my life simply say nothing or ignore the pregnancy entirely. I know that some of them have struggled to conceive, so I try to be understanding, but it's hurtful. Plain and simple.

6.) "Is this your little 'oopsie'?" Why is it so hard to believe that people -- even those of us who have the "perfect" boy and girl -- might still choose to go for number three because that's the number of children we WANT? Is that really so weird?

7.) "Why do you have a gender preference when you already have one of each?" The reality is, some people do prefer one gender over another. Let's not make them feel more guilty about it just because we didn't. It's not really our place to judge.

8.) "Trying for that boy/girl, I bet." This one is often said to mamas whose first two were the same sex. It's potentially very hurtful because, no, we can't control the sex of our babies, and also, maybe we want all of one sex. Maybe we don't care. Maybe it's not anyone's business to assume.

9.) "Are you, like, religious?" Contrary to popular belief, people often have bigger families for reasons OTHER than spirituality. Some people just want bigger families.

10.) "OMG! Three/Four/Five is the most stressful number of kids. Your life is over now!" OK, I get it, more than one or two babies isn't for you. But come on? How is that helpful? Most pregnant women are already stressed enough.

What rude things did people say to you after pregnancy number two?

Image via Ben Salter/Flickr

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Pregnant Woman Killed by Tree Branch Leaves Military Dad-to-Be Behind

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AppId is over the quota
by Nicole Fabian-Weber 2 hours ago

A heartbreaking and freak accident happened over the weekend in which a pregnant woman was killed, leaving her 20-year-old husband behind. Yingyi Li-Dikov was doing one of the most innocuous things a human could possibly do -- sitting on a bench at a park -- when a tree branch fell on top of her, killing her and her unborn baby girl. Li-Dikov was hanging out at a park in Queens, New York, presumably exercising since she was in jogging clothes, when an uprooted oak tree fell and crushed her. She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, but sadly was pronounced dead on arrival.

Her husband, Aleksandar Dikov, who recently completed basic training for the National Guard, is, understandably, heartbroken. "She was a very great and loving person," Dikov said. "I was so happy to be with her. She was the one for me. She was the best thing. I don't think I'll find another girl like her. I know I won’t.”

Talk about life being unfair.

On any given day, there are millions of people doing dangerous things. And by no means do they deserve to die, but it's just so ironic and weird and cruel that a pregnant woman with her whole life ahead of her, and her baby, would be killed from sitting on a park bench. Something she and her husband probably never in a million years thought would put her in harm's way. Dikov, who must have been so thrilled to have his first child on the way, now is left with nothing. No wife. And no baby. He's no longer a husband; no longer a father-to-be. His life as he knew it is over.

I truly can't think of any possible explanation for something as awful and random as this happening. It just flat-out seems like life being mean and unfair. Thoughts and prayers to Yingyi's loved ones, especially her husband.

What do you think of this?

Image via richard_north/Flickr

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Pregnant Mom Answers Ad for House Cleaning Job and Ends Up Dead

woensdag 31 juli 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Jeanne Sager 4 hours ago

If you think it's hard finding a job in a rough economy, try being pregnant and looking for work. It's a scary world out there. And the murder of pregnant mom Deanna Ballman, who answered a Craigslist ad to clean a doctor's house last year, doesn't make it any easier.

Ballman was working odd jobs until she gave birth, when she hoped to find something steady. But that never happened. Deanna Ballman was raped and murdered with an injection of a lethal dose of heroin. Her unborn baby, Mabel, also died that day.

Ballman left behind two older children.

Her sister, as executor of her estate, is now suing the doctor who allegedly killed her, along with Craigslist and the hospital where the doctor worked before his medical license was suspended, for $40 million. The money could take care of her kids, kids whose mom was killed in part because of the work that she was doing to care for them.

Not that any of this is Deanna Ballman's fault. Not by a long-shot.

Cops say that is on Dr. Ali Salim who is charged with two counts of murder as well as rape, felonious assault, corrupting another with drugs, kidnapping, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse.

But the choices she was stuck with, that she was so desperate for work, certainly hurt her in the end.

Whether her alleged killer -- Dr. Salim's case is still working its way through the criminal courts -- was able to overpower her because of her pregnant state or not, we don't know. But there's no doubt here that her pregnancy played a role in her death. It made her desperate, desperate enough to take a job in a private house, a job that wasn't tied to an agency or service.

There is ALWAYS a risk when you work in someone else's home. You're on their territory, for one, and you're in a private place, where things can go on sight unseen. Going in on your own, without the backup of some agency, makes it riskier. There's less of a paper trail making the client feel like they could get caught.

Not to mention the client could be anyone -- there's no one taking a credit history back at the office.

Not every Craigslist ad is suspect. There are hundreds (thousands?) of people making transactions every day on there that are perfectly safe and good for the economy.

But the more desperate you are for work, the more willing, it seems, you are to take risks ... risks that could put you in a Deanna Ballman-like situation.

Have you ever taken a job in someone's home without being sent there by an agency? Would you do it again?

Image via police

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeanne Sager

writes articles for The Stir by day, slays closet monsters and bounds through bedtime stories with her elementary schooler by night. The Phineas and Ferb soundtrack reverberates through her brain.

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Is Blake Lively in Hiding Because She's Pregnant?

donderdag 25 juli 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Ericka Sóuter 16 hours ago

As soon as a couple ties the knot, one question usually follows: when are you going to have kids. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were certainly no exception. In fact, after their wedding in September 2012, people speculated a pregnancy was the reason for the super-secret nuptials. However now, Blake may actually have a baby on the way.

According to Perez Hilton, the one-time Green Lantern costars are expecting their first child. According to a witness at the Turbo premiere, "She was rocking a little paunch -- maybe the tiniest of baby bumps." Then a friend revealed that they are just waiting to make it through the first trimester before making the official announcement.

Need more proof? She's usually a size 2 and loves to show off her fit bod, but lately she's opted for flowing clothes and sweaters. Plus, adds the pal, she has given up red wine and champagne for water. All telltale signs.

It actually isn't such a far fetched idea. For months, they have been holed up in their Bedford, New York home. They have only been spotted out and about sporadically. At first it seemed odd that the high profile couple would prefer the sleepy suburb to the excitement of Hollywood or a cosmopolitan city like New York. But if they were planning to start a family, it makes perfect sense. I bet there is some serious nesting going on.

If true, this is destined to be the most genetically blessed child in Hollywood history (story Shiloh Jolie-Pitt).

Do you think about Blake possibly being pregnant?

Image via Splash

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ericka Sóuter

is a veteran pop culture and celeb news writer. That experience boils down to two things: she knows way too much about the Kardashians and she dominates on Trivial Pursuit's arts and entertainment questions.

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1 Important Thing Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Ensure a Healthy Baby

vrijdag 19 juli 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Adriana Velez 17 hours ago

Hey pregnant ladies -- now you have one more reason to try and get a good night's sleep. Poor sleep can disrupt your baby's immune system. It can also lead to lower birth rate and other complications. "Our results highlight the importance of identifying sleep problems in early pregnancy ... since sleep is a modifiable behavior," says lead researcher Michelle Okun. So now you know. Get plenty of sleep, future mamas. Okay? Okay. End of post.

"Oh but wait," sleep-deprived women everywhere cry out, "what if we have INSOMNIA?!?" It's helpful to know that your baby's immune system is linked with your sleep, but there's a million other reasons why pregnant women would want to get a good night's sleep already. Not many people actually deprive themselves of sleep on purpose, you know? So if you know it's good for you, but you still can't seem to get enough sleep, what can you do?

1. Work with your doctor. This should probably be your first step, before trying any home remedies. There may be significant health issues or symptoms that are causing your sleeplessness (besides pregnancy, which is not a medical condition, I know). And your doctor will know about any complications you should be aware of.

2. Set the stage. Before you go to bed, dim the lights and try to limit your screen time. Reading a book or magazine before bed will better help your mind to relax; watching TV or going online can stimulate your mind too much right before bed. Make sure your bedroom is cool. Don't bring anything work-related into your bedroom if you can help it, and definitely not into bed with you.

3. Get some exercise. There are many reasons to exercise during pregnancy -- one of them is that it will help you sleep better. Exercise in moderation and check with your doctor about any modifications you should make. Even walking and yoga will help.

4. Rescue Remedy. Herbal sleeping aids are generally not recommended for pregnant women. But some doctors are all right with taking Rescue Remedy just to quiet your mind before bed. You'll want to check with your own doctor, first.

5. Take a nap. As a pregnant woman, you are officially entitled to a nap when you need it.

Do you have trouble sleeping while pregnant?

Image via Bart Everson/Flickr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Adriana Velez

is a staff writer who dabbles in food, parenting, news, entertainment, molecular biology, and anything else that that pops into her head. She lives with her elementary school-aged son in Brooklyn, land of urban farms and artisan everything.  

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Pregnant Olympian Dies 3 Weeks Before Her Due Date -- But the Baby Is Okay (VIDEO)

donderdag 18 juli 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Mary Fischer 4 hours ago

In what is an incredibly sad and unthinkable story, a pregnant former Olympian, Meskerem Legesse, died in Connecticut earlier this week after suddenly collapsing in a Chinese food restaurant while waiting to pick up take-out. Making the situation even more devastating is that her 2-year-old son was with her when it happened -- and she was only three weeks away from giving birth to her second child.

Her cause of death is said to be a heart attack, and she reportedly suffered from heart problems in the past. Surveillance cameras from the restaurant show her walking in, sitting down in a chair, and then collapsing right after that. She was just 26 years old.

You can hear more about what happened in this video -- though I'll warn you that it's a bit tough to watch.

WFSB 3 Connecticut

As you heard in the clip, there is one small ray of hope in this horrible tragedy. Doctors managed to save Meskerem's baby after she was transported to the hospital.

Physicians are crediting the fact that first responders performed CPR on her at the restaurant and in the ambulance on the way to the hospital with saving her newborn daughter's life. 

And as heartbreaking as it is to think about this poor baby growing up never knowing her mother, it's truly a miracle that the child will at least have the chance at a full life thanks to the amazing firefighters and paramedics who did everything they could to try and save Meskerem.

But it's still so hard to accept that this woman lost her life just three weeks before holding her baby in her arms -- which I'm sure was in the forefront of her mind right before she passed. The last few weeks of pregnancy are so exciting and wonderful, and it's just so awful to think that this mom was cheated out of having that incredible moment of seeing her second child born.

All we can do is hope that the father and family of the baby and her other 2-year-old son will keep her memory alive and remind them how much she loved them. And we can pray that they are able to find some peace in welcoming a new life into the world as they work through this difficult time.

What words of comfort would you extend to this woman's family?

Image via music2fish2/Flickr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Fischer

is the writer behind The Mommyologist, and the mom of a future famous comedian. Her current loves include cosmopolitans, reality TV, and shoes that don't pinch her feet.

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8 Great Ways to Tell the World: 'I'm Pregnant!'

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by Sasha Brown-Worsham 12 hours ago

For my first two pregnancies, I was WAY too over-the-top excited to try to come up with a "cute" way to tell people. I told my husband through screams from the bathroom the first time and the second time over the phone at his office -- "Honey are you ready for number two?" I asked over the gurgles of our then 9-month-old. I called my parents before the pee stick was dry.

Still, I have always wanted to be one of those people who told everyone I was preggo in a unique and creative way. I asked around and found that I know a lot of really creative people who announced in a lot of really unique ways.

Here are 8 of the best pregnancy announcements. Hopefully it will spur some equally creative ways for you to let people know you are knocked up! See below:

How did you announce your pregnancy?

var UGC_HOST = "http://ugc-01.cafemomstatic.com";var current_slide_num = 1;var slideshow_url = "http://thestir.cafemom.com/pregnancy/158422/8_great_ways_to_tell";var short_url = "/pregnancy/158422/8_great_ways_to_tell";var slide_id = "";var from_social = "";var current_slide_id = '108865'; Debbie and her husband hosted a big dinner for friends and family, printed up a... VIEW MORE

Image via Debbie

Debbie and her husband hosted a big dinner for friends and family, printed up a dozen of these little photos, put them in tiny frames, and distributed them at each place setting. Can you imagine the surprise and excitement when they discovered the meaning? How cute is that?!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sasha Brown-Worsham

can't decide whether she is a mother, writer, or runner, but is usually all three at some point each day. She has written for dozens of print magazines, newspapers, and websites. She rarely ever writes on bathroom walls.

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