Category: Pregnancy
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Daycare Outbreaks: Fifth Disease
Inspired by a friend’s recent experience with this type of outbreak.. let’s cover Fifths Disease! You can see other posts in the daycare outbreaks series here. Disclaimer: this is not medical advice. This blog is for information only. Please seek medical advice from your trusted healthcare provider. Pause. What are diseases 1 through 4? I…
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Informed Choices: Cervical Checks
This is a big one and I think really important to talk about and look at the evidence, risks/benefits of cervical checks in the third trimester. It’s also important to know your rights, and to be familiar with your own comfort level when things like cervical checks are offered – this one is a bit…
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He’s Here! James’s Home Birth Story (Read It or Listen to it on the Podcast – NEW EPISODE!)
FYI: I have covered the story of my birth in more detail on the podcast – NEW EPISODE NOW AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS. I will also make a separate written post about home births in Ontario and prep/procedure. Check out the episode here! Well, I didn’t make it to 41 weeks as I…
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39-40 Weeks: It’s Time to Get Out!
Have you ever seen the episode of Friends where Rachel hits 40 weeks pregnant? Before she’s saying she’s fine, it’s not so bad but as soon as that dreaded “due date” comes and/or passes, suddenly she’s miserable. I’d say that is somewhat akin to real life experience. I write this as I am 40+1 days…
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Informed Choices: Glucose Screening & Testing
Lets rewind from my last post on the GBS swab, which happens later in pregnancy, to glucose screening! This topic comes at an appropriate time, because I have seen a lot of confusion online about fasting and non-fasting glucose tests. There is even (honestly) confusion among providers at times I think – in terms of…
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37-38 Weeks: Preparing for a Pandemic Birth
Well I am officially 38 weeks pregnant today, which means I am about 2-3 weeks away from meeting baby. I have basically let go of any expectations for when he will arrive – I recently read this book (Amazon link – I may earn from your purchases) by hypnobirth expert Hollie de Cruz and she…
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Informed Choices: Group B Strep (GBS) Swab
I’m skipping a bit “ahead” on the pregnancy informed choices trajectory because I just did my GBS swab and it’s fresh on my mind. Disclaimer: This blog is not medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Please seek advice from your trusted healthcare provider. First of all – what is Group B Strep?…
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35-36 Weeks Pregnant: GBS Swab and Birth Prep
I know I say this every week – but I can’t believe I’m here! I can’t believe there is – give or take – 4 weeks until my sons arrival. I am feeling mixed emotions the past 2 weeks – I am getting so excited to meet him and see his little face; I’m a…
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Informed Choices: Diagnostic Prenatal Testing (Amniocentesis & CVS)
I have actually written two posts around genetics recently – so this will be a shorter post, just reviewing the potential risks, benefits and ethical considerations behind genetic testing – specifically with a focus on the diagnostics amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) since I haven’t written about these before. You can refer to my…
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Informed Choices: Ultrasounds in Pregnancy
Let’s talk about one of the more exciting diagnostics of pregnancy – the ultrasound. Now, I have previously done a post on the different ultrasounds in pregnancy and when you can expect to have them if you are considered low risk – you can find that post here. Please review this if you are unfamiliar…
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