All Hands on Baby

Everyone wants to touch the baby, especially during the pregnancy but
no one every asks. If you haven’t noticed yet, the minute you start
to show a tummy everyone else will gladly show you. The tummy becomes
this magnet for hands and everyone wants to handle it. It doesn?t
matter if you are walking around in a store, sitting down in a
restaurant or walking on your own street, someone is bound to start
rubbing all over it.

You aren?t the only one that is being driven nuts by this either, take
a look at your husband. Sure he seems like a trooper but deep inside
he?s probably ready to put someone?s lights out. Talk with your
husband and see how he feels. Even if you don?t mind, he might not
like other men?s hands on you. He may not care if it is a female
touching your body but he can mind about a man. Think about how you
would feel if you saw some woman rubbing her hands all over your
husband?s chest. Maybe the two of you can come to an agreement, after
all do you have to let everyone touch the baby?

Your belly, clothed or not is a personal space, sure there is someone
intruding inside you but that person in welcome. But to actually touch
someone else?s belly one should ask before they do it and respect your
answer. If you don?t want them to touch it, tell them. While some
women don?t mind all the attention, there are other women that don?t
want their belly?s touched, let alone them to be showing for the whole
world to see. Maybe they?ve gained 10 pounds and feel conscious enough
about it, or they could be a very private person.

Children may also want to touch the belly, normally it is because they
know someone that has had a baby and they were able to do it. If you
don?t like it, let them know. If you don?t mind, you may want to place
their hand on your belly. Children tend to get excited and actually
smack the belly when they are trying to reach for it.

Forget about the rubbing the belly for a moment, be careful that you
don?t get the person that likes to poke at it. That hurts more than
anything and half the time they don?t get it. Try explaining to them
as nicely as you can that it hurts. They may only be doing it because
they want to see the baby move and when you jump they just think it is
part of the pregnancy reaction. They may think twice before doing it
again to you or anyone else.

If nothing else seems to work and you?ve been polite in letting people
know that your belly is off limits, feel free to sick your husband on
them or start swatting. You?ve already given fair warning. Don?t feel
bad if you smack a person that lifts up your shirt in broad daylight
either. This is a normal reaction and people should really think twice
before doing it. They wouldn?t do it if you weren?t pregnant.

A Guide To Your Pregnancy

The first step of your pregnancy, after seeing the little positive
stick should to have it confirmed. Call immediately to have a
pregnancy test done with your local doctor, you may be in luck and get
in that same day or have to wait about a week or two. Patience will
become your best friend during this time or your worst enemy, waiting
can become a very hard thing when you want to know for sure whether
you are or aren’t pregnant. More than likely you’ll get a phone call a
few days later to confirm it.

Set up an appointment to see your OB/GYN or midwife as soon as
possible, chances are you’ll be meeting his/her staff before you ever
meet them. This is the first appointment where your doctor/midwife
will want to know all your medical history. If you?ve been pregnant,
what types of sicknesses run in your family, etc. If you can, try
making sure you know all of this ahead of time, maybe even have it all
down on paper so when he/she asks you are prepared. During the days or
weeks leading up to this meeting you may have concerns, write them
down and ask them. Believe it or not doctors are there to help you,
and they?ve been asked every question you can possibly think of.
Before leaving your doctor may even give you a bag full of goodies all
about being pregnant. Read these, they may prove beneficial and not to
mention they?ve got coupons. Your doctor will either give you another
appointment or have you set one up before leaving. There are some
great books out there if you are really worried about what will happen
next or how birth is going to be, check them out at your local library.

Make sure that you get your prenatal vitamins, they are very important
during pregnancy. If for some reason you can?t take them, talk with
your doctor he/she may be able to prescribe a lower dosage or
something else. You?ll get your first ultrasound, also known as US
around week 20, this is normally when you find out what sex the baby
is. However some doctors like to call it safe and give you an
ultrasound around 10-12 weeks just to make sure the baby is in the
proper location and all is going well. You will also be asked to take
an orange drink that you must drink in five minutes. You?ll wait
around for an hour to three hours, at which point your blood gets
drawn and you can go home. The test determines if you have or have a
chance of getting gestational diabetes.

At first your appointments will be about 4 weeks apart until you hit
the 36 week and at that point it?ll be two weeks later and a week
later after that until the baby is born. By now you should be
preparing to have the baby. Yes, I?m sure you?ll have some anxiety
towards the end of your pregnancy. You?ve went this far, it?s time you
see your reward.