Preparing For Your Baby's Arrival

First you need to prepare a place in your home for the baby. There are several ways to save money on baby items. You can go to garage sales, second hand stores, or receive items from family, friends, or neighbors. Here are some suggestions for essential nursery equipment:

• Federally approved car seat
• Crib or cradle/basinet
• Bottle and nipples
• Brush for cleaning bottles
• Diaper bag packed with several diapers, receiving blanket, change of clothes, plastic bag for dirty diapers, and baby wipes
• Diaper pail for cloth diapers
• Nursing bras
• Changing table

When purchasing a crib you need to make sure it meets safety standards. There are a lot of recalls on baby items so it's best to do some research before buying or accepting an item.

Baby Names

Where do you start when trying to come up with a name for your baby boy or girl? You can search the internet or buy a baby name book.  Some people keep it easy and name their baby after family or friends. There are popular names, unique names, ethnic names, or more traditional names to choose from. There are a lot of things to consider when naming your baby. First you have to consider the gender. Other important factors are meaning of the name, sound, rhythm, and compatibility, initials and nicknames, is it hard to pronounce or spell, religions, namesakes, and stereotypes. Most importantly, you and your husband or wife have to agree on the perfect name for your beautiful bundle of joy!

Getting Pregnant after Birth Control

The birth control pill was introduced in North America in the 1960's. Getting pregnant after taking birth control for so many years seems complicated. Now that I've stopped, it's been 5 months and still no period. I am not pregnant so what is the deal! I know the pill works by preventing ovulation, and you need to ovulate first if you want to get pregnant. I've read it is safe to get pregnant as soon as you have stopped the pill, and some women may ovulate within weeks after stopping the pill, while in others (my case) it could take several months. I've read this is common and this is what is going on according to Babymed.
Combined contraceptives, containing both estrogen and progesterone, are the most commonly used oral contraceptives. They prevent ovulation by maintaining certain hormone levels and suppressing other natural hormones that would otherwise stimulate the ovaries to ripen and release an egg. By taking combined oral contraceptives, you prevent an egg from developing, or being released, for that cycle. While a woman is on the pill, the menstrual period doesn't come - as it usually does, as a result of ovulation - but because of the sudden decrease in hormone levels during the one week per month when the pills she takes are placebos, when they don’t contain any hormones. Because their cycle is controlled by the pills, women taking oral contraceptives are used to getting regular menstrual periods every 28 days. When you stop taking the pill entirely, the constant hormone level that suppresses ovulation stops. Your body has to start its own hormone production and may sometimes need some time to regain its normal rhythm. The ovary itself has to get ready so that an egg can mature and can be released. While there are several hundred thousand eggs in the ovaries ready to mature, they may need some time before your first new ovulation.
Here are some tips to help improve your chances of getting pregnant:

•Eat as nutritiously as possible.

•Begin taking folic acid supplements.

•Quit smoking.

•Limit your intake of alcohol.

•Try to manage your stress.

Can I have twins?

My husband has twins on his mom and dad's side of the family. Does that mean I could possibly have twins? After doing some research I found out the history of twins on the maternal side of the family is said to increase your chances of having twins. So, my husband having twins on his side of the family does not help me. Also, taking fertility drugs, getting pregnant when you are older, and getting pregnant while breastfeeding could increase your chances of having twins.

Determining Gender-maybe you can decide

Does the timing of intercourse during your cycle have any correlation with the gender of the baby? Male sperm swim faster but die sooner. Female sperm swim slower but live longer. If you are trying for a girl, having sexual intercourse 2-3 days before ovulation and abstaining afterwards may increase your chances. If you are trying for a boy, having sexual intercourse the day of ovulation may increase your chances. It's best to know your exact PH. You'll need a highly acidic PH to conceive a girl and a low vaginal PH to get a boy. You can get PH strips at most health food stores or you can buy them online and have them shipped to your home. It's also good to know your exact ovulation day. The saliva predictor kit is extremely accurate and I found one on Ebay. Ovulation test can be found at your local grocery store. I found one at Walmart. Good luck to all and I wish you the best!

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Ovulation

Ovulation is the process in a female's menstrual cycle by which a mature ovarian follicle ruptures and discharges an ovum (an egg). So, how do you track ovulation? Ovulation can be calculated by starting with the day the last menstrual period starts or by calculating 12-16 days from the next expected period according to americanpregnancy.org. Most women ovulate anywhere between Day 11- Day 21 of their cycle, counting from the first day of the last menstrual period. What are the best tools to track your cycle? There are a couple options. You have Ovulation Midstream Tests and Ovulation Test Strips. Which ones worked best for you?