Moms in the Know® - A Guide for Families in Charleston

Prenatal Tips

When a sibling is coming, be sure to have activities to help the big brother or sister feel important! There are great books small children can fill out about their new sibling. You can also give the older sibling "important jobs" like getting the wipes and diapers when you need them.

When I was pregnant, I woke up one morning to find that I couldn’t get my rings off my fingers. Luckily someone told me about Preparation H. I rubbed it on my fingers, the swelling went down, and my rings slid off shortly after.

Low impact exercise like yoga or swimming while pregnant helps you get better rest, avoid constipation and bloating and prepare for labor. Exercise has also been shown to help get your prepregnancy body back more quickly.

Don’t forget to do kegel exercises when you are pregnant. The exercises help prevent bladder leakage, during and after pregnancy.

Some old wives tales say that if your baby is breech, try swimming, doing headstands in a pool, playing music and putting a flashlight between your legs, attaching clothespins to your pinky toes 30 minutes per day, drinking juice then in a side-lying position use a pillow to adjust your hips higher than your belly. **Remember: These are wives tales, so check with your doctor before trying.

Look for baby swaddle blankets with Velcro. They make great shower gifts and are available at most department stores.

If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tile fish due to the high levels of mercury in these fish. Fish low in mercury that are recommended to be eaten twice a week are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, Pollock, and catfish. www.epa.gov/ost/fish

Have a book club baby shower! Guests bring their favorite childhood story with an inscription to the baby. This is a great way to start a wonderful library for your future reader.

Don’t forget to include a copy of Moms in the Know with your next shower gift. New moms will soon be in the know too.


		Prenatal Tips When a sibling is coming, be sure to have activities to help the big brother or sister feel important! There are great books small children can fill out about their new sibling. You can also give the older sibling "important jobs" like getting the wipes and diapers when you need them. When I was pregnant, I woke up one morning to find that I couldn’t get my rings off my fingers. Luckily someone told me about Preparation H. I rubbed it on my fingers, the swelling went down, and my rings slid off shortly after. Low impact exercise like yoga or swimming while pregnant helps you get better rest, avoid constipation and bloating and prepare for labor. Exercise has also been shown to help get your prepregnancy body back more quickly. Don’t forget to do kegel exercises when you are pregnant. The exercises help prevent bladder leakage, during and after pregnancy. Some old wives tales say that if your baby is breech, try swimming, doing headstands in a pool, playing music and putting a flashlight between your legs, attaching clothespins to your pinky toes 30 minutes per day, drinking juice then in a side-lying position use a pillow to adjust your hips higher than your belly. **Remember: These are wives tales, so check with your doctor before trying. Look for baby swaddle blankets with Velcro. They make great shower gifts and are available at most department stores. If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tile fish due to the high levels of mercury in these fish. Fish low in mercury that are recommended to be eaten twice a week are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, Pollock, and catfish. www.epa.gov/ost/fish Have a book club baby shower! Guests bring their favorite childhood story with an inscription to the baby. This is a great way to start a wonderful library for your future reader. Don’t forget to include a copy of Moms in the Know with your next shower gift. New moms will soon be in the know too.