Feeling romantic? Contrary to what some people believe, feeling sexy and being pregnant are not mutually exclusive! Your doctor can tell you what is and isn’t safe during pregnancy.

If you’re feeling sexy, enjoy and give in to it! As long as you’re following doctor’s orders, there’s no reason to sit around wishing. Even during those times when you feel a little too bulky or tired for sex, though, there’s always room for romance. This is a great time to step back and remember what made you fall in love to begin with. Quiet walks, candlelight dinners, massages, handholding and foot rubs are all perfectly lovely, easy, and free ways to warm up your relationship.

Of course, there is no right or wrong way to “do pregnancy.” If you don’t feel romantic, that’s all right. Get some sleep and see if you feel differently tomorrow. Remember, at your core, you’re a romantic and sexual being, even if at times you don’t feel like it. Be open to possibilities, and let some of those delicious feelings have some room from time to time!

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In olden days, women worked in the fields until their time came, had the baby, and went back to work. The equivalent today is the career-minded mom who calls the office from the delivery room. It really happens!

Most women can work throughout pregnancy. As long as your doctor says it’s all right to work, and you are reasonably comfortable doing so, it’s fine to keep going.

Of course, you may not want to keep working. If you’re just getting too tired, and you can afford to take some extra time off, ask for a doctor’s excuse. Seriously! Your doctor may very well be willing to give you a note, especially late in pregnancy. If this is a financial option for you, take advantage of it. Use the last few weeks of your pregnancy to relax, do some leisurely shopping, and enjoy being pregnant.

If taking time off isn’t an option – and it may not be – then look for ways to ease the burden of working. If you’re not taking all the breaks you’re entitled to, start taking them. If you’re supposed to work 40 hours a week, now’s not the time to work 42. Stop volunteering for extra duties. Stop saying yes when you should say no. The world won’t stop if some things just don’t get done. Honest!

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Did you know that high heat is bad for your baby? Raising the deep, internal temperature of the mother’s body has been associated with some birth defects. For that reason, doctors generally advise women to avoid long, hot showers and hot bubble baths during pregnancy.

Now, this hardly seems fair, since long hot baths can be so soothing after a stressful day. Nevertheless, until the baby is born, your best bet is to find other relaxation techniques. After the baby is born, you can stand in the shower until your toes wrinkle up.

How else can you get that all over warmth in the meantime? One way is to learn new relaxation techniques. Light some candles, wrap yourself in a soft blanket, and sip some herbal tea. Put on some soothing music. If your house is noisy, get some headphones to drown out the noise. Have your partner give you a belly massage. Relax – but stay cool!

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It’s hard to know how many pregnancies end in miscarriage, since some occur before the woman knows she’s pregnant and may be mistaken for a period. What we do know is that it’s fairly common, especially during the first couple of months after conception. Often there’s no way to tell why a miscarriage occurred, and no reason to think it will repeat.

None of that is very comforting, though, if you’re the one who’s had the miscarriage.

If you or someone you know has had a miscarriage, remember that there’s no right or wrong way to feel or to deal with this tough experience. You might feel relief, confusion, guilt, fear, or profound grief. You might experience many feelings in succession or even all at once. Give yourself permission to feel what you feel. Ask your doctor when you can try again (if that’s what you want to do) and find out, too, about support groups that can help you maneuver through this difficult time.

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You’re pregnant and you’re going to gain weight. Get used to it. Your doctor will keep tabs on your weight gain to make sure it’s not excessive, but it’s essential that you gain at least some weight during pregnancy. You and your baby need it! So instead of bemoaning your growing waistline, spend your energy learning to appreciate it. You know, it’s really only the last little bit of human history that we’ve had a love affair with flat stomachs and protruding hipbones. Honestly, round is much sexier than bony, and you have never been more beautiful than you are right now.

Of course, it’s hard to overcome the strong cultural influences that have preprogrammed us to think thin is beautiful. If you’re having trouble feeling beautiful right now, that’s okay. Just remember that what you’re feeling has a lot more to do with good marketing by the fashion industry than with the true meaning of beauty.

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Not crazy about exercise? If you didn’t like it before, you’re probably not going to like it now, with 20 extra pounds and a lovely round belly you can’t see over. But pregnancy may not be the time to start running 20 miles a day if you’ve been a couch potato up until now. In fact, even if you already have an ongoing fitness program, check with your doctor. Your body is put together a little differently inside right now, and you’ll need sound information about how to “drive” it properly.

If your doctor wants you to exercise, and you’re looking for ideas, go to your local video store and look for an exercise DVD that’s specifically designed for pregnancy, or look for an exercise class for moms-to-be. Be sure to listen carefully to the instructor, because she’ll show you how to move safely and comfortably. Who knows, it may even turn out to be fun!

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If you take a road trip while you’re expecting, you’ll discover one of the best-kept secrets about being with child: when you look pregnant, every building has a bathroom. Even if you see a sign that says “No public bathrooms,” forget about it. For you, there’s a bathroom! The fact is, most people want to be helpful to pregnant women – and those who aren’t so helpful are a little afraid of what will happen if they say no.

That said, just because there’s a bathroom doesn’t mean it’s clean – or that you can fit into it. So stick to the highway, where large, clean bathrooms will be easier to find. And if the stalls are too small or the doors open in, it really is okay to use the handicap-access stall.

If you feel strange asking for special treatment just because you’re pregnant, then ask yourself this: when will you deserve special treatment, if not now?

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Once the morning sickness phase is over, you may be surprised to find that food tastes better than ever before. That can be a big relief after three months of nausea, but it can also mean weight gain in excess of what’s healthy for you and your baby.

When your appetite returns, try not to indulge in too many empty calories. Sure, you might have a craving for a jelly roll, and maybe you’ll indulge it at some point. But three jelly rolls a day for six months? They taste great now, but you’ll pay later with questions about when the baby is due – sometime near your child’s first birthday!

If you like to cook, this is a great time to try new, healthy recipes. If you’ve got a good farmer’s market nearby, check out some new ingredients. Take a cooking class. If you’re not a domestic goddess, just be more aware of what you eat. Remember, your baby is eating it, too. So read the labels, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and keep the sweets to a minimum.

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Morning sickness is so cliché. But while common, it’s not universal and it doesn’t have to keep you down.

Morning sickness is caused by the hormonal changes your body experiences during early pregnancy. For some women, these new chemicals take some getting used to!

The experience of morning sickness is different not only for every woman, but different for each pregnancy. Some women never experience it at all. Some just feel a little nauseous for a few hours a day. Some seem to get no rest from it. For most women, morning sickness subsides after the first trimester of pregnancy, but some feel it for the full nine months. There’s no way to predict what your pregnancy will be like.

If morning sickness is not too severe, you can get relief by taking some simple steps: Eat in small meals. Keep saltines with you, so if you get nauseous you can get something into your stomach that won’t make you even sicker. Note when you tend to experience nausea. Sometimes it will be triggered by certain foods or certain smells. Once you know what they are, you can avoid them.

If your nausea is really severe, ask your doctor if there’s anything you can take for it. Don’t take any medication while you’re pregnant, though, without your doctor’s knowledge and approval.

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You’re pregnant! You’re on the brink of the greatest adventure an adult can have: parenthood! Being a parent is a big responsibility, but don’t let that scare you. The trick is to take it one step, one day, and sometimes one minute at a time.

Once you become pregnant, the very first step towards being a great parent is an easy one: Get yourself some good prenatal care. Whether you go to an expensive clinic or your neighborhood community health center isn’t important. The important thing is to go.

At your first visit, you’ll meet the doctor or nurse-practitioner who will take care of you. That person will take a medical history and do a brief exam and some blood work to confirm that you’re really pregnant. You’ll probably receive information about what to eat, how to stay healthy, and how your baby will be developing inside of you. There’s a good chance you’ll be given a prescription for special prenatal vitamins.

If everything is going well, you’ll probably be asked to come in once a month for the first four to six months. After that, visits will increase to every two weeks, and in your last month or two, you’ll come in once a week.

These visits are important, so don’t miss them. They’re your best bet to assuring a safe, comfortable pregnancy and a healthy full-term baby.

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