Everybody, men and women alike, would like mommy to get back to her good looking shape as soon as possible after giving birth. But is that realistic? And what are the steps to take to lose all the extra pounds? It is good to know what to expect, because otherwise you might grow very disappointed and frustrated. No, you won’t be back in your pre-natal shape when you step out of the hospital. The good news is that you can get back there in 6 to 8 months. Just be realistic, patient and perseverant. First of all, consider that it took nine months to put on those pounds and it is unrealistic to expect to get rid of them overnight. You should give yourself just at least about the same time for the process to be reversed. Don’t pack clothes that you wore before being pregnant to wear when coming home from the hospital. Even after giving birth, there are still lots of extra fluids in your body and it will take about 2 or 3 weeks to eliminate them. Then, consider that it takes about 4 weeks for the uterus to contract back to its normal size. (more...)

The symptoms of pregnancy vary from woman to woman. Some experience a variety of symptoms and others experience none of the signs of pregnancy. Missing a period is the most obvious indication, but there are others which you may, or may not, experience. The early signs of pregnancy include: 1. A missed period, or a rather scanty one. A missed period is usually one of the first indicators of pregnancy for women. However, some women experience spotting or a light menstrual-like flow, when implantation occurs (about 10 days after conception). The bleeding that occurs when the developing embryo becomes implanted into the uterine wall is lighter and shorter in duration than is menstrual bleeding. (more...)

Women have become much more savvy about artificial hormones since the WHI study on the risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). What many women don’t realize is that the Pill actually has higher amounts of synthetic hormones than HRT — up to twice as much, depending on the brand. Even the low-dose pills have 35 mcg of estrogen combined with a progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone), slightly higher than an average HRT prescription. (more...)