Category Archives: pregnancy

September 6, 2017 · 1:52 am

“Pickles And Ice Cream” A Bizarre Pregnancy Cookbook #Giveaway

With all my pregnancies over the years, I have accumulated and read hundreds of pregnancy books. However, I have never before seen a pregnancy cookbook quite like Pickles and Ice Cream. This book features bizarre pregnancy craving recipes like Oreos and Toothpaste and Tomato Soup with M&Ms. All of the recipes are photographed like gourmet meals and accompanied by short stories about the women who craved them.

Below you can watch a video of brave souls tasting the creative recipes:

Written by award-winning copywriter Vicky Jacob-Ebbinghaus and RPA art director Juarez Rodrigues, the strangely unique book contains a collection of 70 of the most outlandish things moms-to-be have craved during their pregnancy. This book makes a fun gift for the expecting mom, you can enter to win a copy in our giveaway below.

Giveaway:

Running Press is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Two lucky blog readers will win their own hardcover copy of Pickles And Ice Cream Cookbook! Thank you to Running Press for the review book and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US Residents in the contiguous 48 states.

Pickles And Ice Cream Cookbook Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter below using the Rafflecopter Widget. Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Books, Giveaway, pregnancy, Review

Tagged as Books, Cookbooks, Cravings, giveaway, Humor, Pickles And Ice Cream, pregnancy

August 7, 2017 · 7:22 pm

The Struggle Is Real: Overcoming the Obstacle of Infertility

This is a sponsored guest post and does not necessarily represent the views of Mommy Ramblings.

Many couples assume that when they are ready to start a family, getting pregnant will be easy. In fact, most put more focus on preventing a pregnancy before they are ready. So, when the time comes to start trying, it can be an unpleasant surprise if the pregnancy tests continuously come up negative. You may try different remedies and still get the same disappointing result.

But if you begin to think that you may not be able to get pregnant on your own, and have your suspicions confirmed by a doctor, you’ll find you still have donation options that can help you achieve your dream of parenthood.

Let’s take a closer look at infertility and how donor eggs can help.

The Struggle with Infertility

There’s an entire spectrum of emotion that comes with the news that you’re unlikely to conceive a baby naturally. Like any loss, a loss of fertility comes with stages of grief that include shock, depression, and anger. It’s completely normal to wonder, ‘why me?’ and to feel alone, isolated, and like you have failed at something. There’s the strain it can put on your relationship and the unspeakable questions of blame. It’s important to work through all of these feelings and to have open, honest discussions with your partner and possibly even a therapist.

The reality is that infertility is not uncommon. In fact, after age 30, the average woman’s chances of getting pregnant declines quite rapidly, and by age 40 she has only a 5% chance of pregnancy per cycle – that’s 15% less than the average 30-year-old. While you might feel frustrated at the prospect of undertaking an alternative conception method – and undergoing invasive procedures – you can feel reassured that, thanks to significant advances to fertility medicine over the past few decades, you can greatly raise your chances for success. Egg donation in particular accounts for over 8000 babies born in the USA every year.

Using Donor Eggs as a Solution

When is egg donation commonly looked to as a solution? A few common scenarios include intended mothers over the age of 40 who are having problems conceiving naturally, women who have had repeat miscarriages due to unviable eggs, premature ovarian failure, women who have gone through cancer treatment, or women who carry a genetic disease that they would rather not pass on to a child.

How it Works

The first step is to browse through the available donors at a donor bank and to choose the one that is the best fit for you.
If you opt for fresh donor eggs, you will be required to take fertility supplements to sync your menstrual cycle with that of the donor.
Once you’re in sync or if you opt for frozen eggs, estrogen supplements are provided to thicken the lining of the uterus in order to maximize the chances of implantation.
If you chose frozen eggs, the egg will be thawed.
The egg will then be fertilized with a partner’s or donor’s sperm.
The embryo that develops is implanted into your uterus.
After implantation, you will return after about two weeks to take a pregnancy test.
On each cycle, there is roughly a 50/50 chance that pregnancy will occur. If it does, post implantation check-ups are standard and your pregnancy will be monitored closely.

Are Donor Eggs Right for You?

Choosing to use donor eggs to get pregnant is a big decision. It is one that may enable you to bring the child you and your partner desire into the world. However, there are other important factors to consider, such as having a child with genetic material from another person and how that information will be shared with the child. Many face anxiety about what their friends or family will think. All of these considerations should be weighed and talked about to decide if this route is the right one for your situation.

At the end of the day, donor eggs do give those who are struggling with infertility a potential road to parenthood.

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Filed under Baby, Guest Post, pregnancy, sponsored guest post

Tagged as baby, Donor Eggs, Guest Post, Infertility, pregnancy

May 8, 2017 · 11:34 pm

What’s So Good About Pregnancy Pillows?

This is a sponsored guest post. The views and words in this article do not necessarily represent the views or ideals of Mommy Ramblings.

Many pregnant women use pregnancy pillows when they sleep. As a woman’s pregnancy progresses, it can be more and more difficult to get comfortable and sleep through the night. Since there will be plenty of sleepless nights after the baby comes, you need to get as much sleep as possible while you still have the chance. A pregnancy pillow provides support to your neck, shoulders, back, and legs. It also allows you to sleep in a semi-fetal position, which is the most comfortable position and is also the position recommended by doctors. There are several other ways that a pregnancy pillow can help you during your pregnancy.

Helps With Circulation

Doctors tell expectant mothers that they should sleep on their left side to help with blood circulation. Many women find this position uncomfortable due to their growing belly. A pregnancy pillow makes sleeping on your side more comfortable. Since every pregnant woman’s body is different, the pillow can be adjusted to fit just right.

Prevents Aches and Pains

Pregnancy for most women is an amazing time. Unfortunately, the excitement can be ruined with the aches and pains that many women suffer from. Studies have shown that between 50 and 80 percent of all pregnant women suffer from intense pain and numbness in their neck, back, hips, knees and legs during their pregnancy. Some suffer from these pains even after the baby is born. When you use a pregnancy pillow, it will put less stress on your body while you sleep, preventing these frustrating aches and pains.

Better Night’s Sleep

If you have aches and pains while you sleep, it can be difficult to sleep through the night. A pregnancy pillow will help you relax and it will ease the pain, allowing you to sleep through the night. The more sleep you get, the healthier you and your baby will be.

Helps With Breast Feeding

If you are planning to breastfeed, your pregnancy pillow can be very helpful. You can use the pillow to position your baby properly so that it is easy for them to latch. Because pregnancy pillows come in different shapes and sizes, it is easy to find the one that is most comfortable for you.

When you go shopping for pregnancy pillows, you will notice that there are a few different types to choose from. Each different type has its own benefits. The one that you choose depends on what you want from the pillow.

Pregnancy wedge pillows: This pillow is also known as a maternity cushion. It comes in different shapes and it is the smallest type of pillow. You can use the pregnancy pillow in a few different ways. You can put it under your belly for support, which can make sleeping more comfortable on you back and hips. You can also use it behind your back is you toss and turn while you sleep. It can be used under your regular pillow to raise your head to relieve heartburn, which is common in pregnancy.

Full length pregnancy pillow: A full length pregnancy pillow provides support for your entire body, however, it is not as sturdy as wedge pillows. You can wrap your arms and legs around the pillow while supporting your growing belly. You can find pregnancy pillows that are straight or that are full of styrofoam balls so that it can be shaped to fit your body.

Total body pregnancy pillows: Total body pillows are great for your second trimester and through the rest of your pregnancy. These pillows are between 5 and 6 feet long, and they provide support to the spine. These pillows are either U-shaped or C-shaped. They are also great for your baby after.

If you want to get a good night’s sleep while you are pregnant and you want to be comfortable, you should consider buying a pregnancy pillow.

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Filed under Baby, Baby Gear, pregnancy, sponsored guest post

Tagged as baby, Guest Post, Healthy Pregnancy, pregnancy, Pregnancy Pillow, Prenatal Care

April 13, 2015 · 3:12 pm

Pregnant For Quadruplets at 65! How Old Is Too Old?

Older moms have been flooding the news the last few days. There is the 61-year-old mom who carried her own grandson for her infertile daughter. She is not the first to do this and it’s an incredible gift most are applauding her for. There is a much more controversial older mom making headlines today. Annegret Raunigk an elementary school teacher in Germany and mother of 13 is pregnant.

You may be amazed she is pregnant for her 14th child or given the Duggars you may find it not too newsworthy. If I told you she was 65, you may find it newsworthy, but if I add that she is not just pregnant for baby number 13 but for quadruplets…I think it is fair to say you would be shocked.

Perhaps the biggest shocker would be that this elementary school teacher is 65 years old. She is also not carrying the babies for an infertile child but to give a sibling to her 13th child that she gave birth to 9 years ago at the age of 55. Her naturally achieved pregnancy at the age of 55 was considered something close to a miracle. At the age of 65 though Annegret turned to fertility specialists.

Annegret’s other children range in age from 22 to 44 and she balks at being told she is too old to have more children. She finds cliches about being too old exhausting. I am sure having quadruplets at 65 or any age for that matter is the true meaning of exhausting. However Dr. Holger Stepan, head of obstetrics at the University Hospital of Leipzig, called the pregnancy “an absolute disaster.” He told Berliner Morgenpost that it wasn’t just Raunigk who’s at risk — so are her four fetuses.

Annegret expecting quadruplets at age 65. Photo credit RTL/Pfeiffer

Picture after the birth of her daughter naturally conceived at age 55. Photo credit ABC News.

As with any controversial topic, the public is also voicing their opinions. Some are calling Annegret selfish and irresponsible. Others are saying that the medical professionals that allowed this are at fault. While others are voicing their opinion that it’s no one else’s business and more power to her.

I remember when I was expecting my son Ethan there was a woman Frieda Birnbaum, 60, from my home town in Bergen County, NJ that was expecting twins. The twins were born and mother and babies did well but it was not without controversy.

Frieda also wished to give her young son a sibling as well as go against the stigma attached to older women giving birth. Birnbaum and her attorney husband were married for 38 years and had two children at the time ages 33 and 6. Mrs. Birnbaum went to South Africa for the fertility treatments that made her the oldest American woman to give birth to twins.

If all goes well Annegret will be the oldest mother to give birth to quadruplets. So far the pregnancy has been free of major complications and she is due in the summer. Annegret underwent several unsuccessful IVF attempts before becoming pregnant with the quads and was said to be shocked to learn she was carrying four babies. She has not considered selective reduction in order to reduce the risks to her and the babies.

So what do you think? Should people just mind their own business? Are the doctors irresponsible? How old is too old? Should women’s rights mean that a woman can choose to have a baby at any age? Let me hear what you think. If you like reading about pregnancy, you can see more at borncute.