For most couples, it starts at the wedding reception – or maybe even before.

Auntie Mathilda, the one who still loves to squeeze your cheeks and call you “her chubby little princess,” walks up to the bridal table and says, “So! When are you two going to start a family?”

Whether through Auntie Mathilda’s influence or whether because you’ve already decided you want to start right away, you know it’s time to start. If you’re like most couples, though, you haven’t given much thought to the actual act. (That is, you’ve probably thought a lot about “the act,” but not in the context of making a baby.)

When Sex Becomes the Baby Dance

So you’ve decided to have a baby, and you’re ready to move forward full thrust (pun intended). It’s time to learn how to do the baby dance! Baby-making sex can be a lot like regular sex, if you let it; it can also become a drag (believe it or not, it’s true.)

Here’s the most important thing you need to know about doing the baby dance:

You Have to Get the Timing Right.

The best time to get pregnant is on the day you ovulate and the five days leading up to ovulation. This is critical. You need to count the days right in order to get pregnant.

Most women ovulate 14 days prior to their next period. While you may not have a crystal ball to tell the future, you do have your experience to guide you here. If your cycle is always exactly 28 days (almost never happens, but let’s just assume for a moment) you’ll be fertile between day 9 and day 15 after your period. If your cycle is usually 32 days, you’ll be fertile between day 13 and day 19.

If your cycle is irregular, you’re going to have to do some guesswork, and that can be frustrating. If you try for a couple of months and still aren’t pregnant, there are ways to pinpoint when you ovulate. You can track your basal body temperature, record changes to your cervical mucus (yes, that’s exactly what it sounds like) and you can even use ovulation prediction test strips. Some women want to really nail it down, so they use all three.

Now, here’s the other thing you need to know about doing the baby dance:

Procreative Sex Doesn’t Have To Be Boring!

There’s no research that suggests missionary position sex is better than man-behind kneeling sex, for example. (Although some research suggests woman-on-top might cause gravity to work against you.) Do watch out for lubricants that might have spermicide or interfere with the journey of the sperm, and consider lubricants that are known to be sperm-friendly.

Other than that, keep sex as pleasurable as it was before. Focus on pleasing each other, and forget for a while about why you’re doing it and just live in the moment. After all, you’re trying to make a baby together. It’s about your relationship and what you want your family to be. 

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•  License: Creative Commons image source 

Vickie and Steve Barnes created BabyHopes.com to give advice, information and encouragement to couples trying to conceive. BabyHopes.com offers a full line of conception aids, too, including ovulation testing and tracking supplies and sperm-friendly lubricants.

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Having a baby is such an exciting time in a couple’s life. Whether it is the first time they are on this journey, or the fourth, it is always a miracle to welcome a new member into the family. As the time approaches to give birth, it is important to discover the best places to have a baby in 2013. The mother needs to be pampered, all family members accepted, and there should be the best possible care for the baby on the way. Location and staff can make the experience both positive and memorable.

Five Great Choices for Giving Birth

Bellevue Woman’s Center in Schenectady, New York, has long held a reputation for excellence in caring for expectant women and their young. For over seventy five years, this facility has been dedicated to providing first rate service. It is the region’s only inpatient facility that specializes in maternity, as well as women’s health issues. As a result, women, their babies, and extended families will receive a degree of care that cannot be surpassed in upstate New York. Women can receive services from the beginning of their pregnancy to the end with pre-natal visits, maternity classes,and birthing facilities in one familiar setting. Women can tailor their birthing experience to their preferences. They have spacious, attractive birthing suites to accommodate everyone. Patients at Bellevue can expect the best.

The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts is another top pick in the northeastern United States. In addition to providing an excellent facility, the degree of nursing care is considered one of this hospital’s greatest assets. The majority of nurses in obstetrics have a master’s degree in nursing. The hospital also offers a program called Parent Connection in which new mothers are paired with experienced mothers. These knowledgeable parents work well as mentors in the first twelve weeks of a newborn’s life.

Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota is innovative in its approach to offering expectant mothers options in their care program. It has a mid-wife unit for women who would prefer the natural experience provided by a mid-wife, yet have the support and resources of a hospital if needed. There are numerous interpreters on staff to ensure that women of various ethnic backgrounds are comfortable and have open channels of communication. Obstetric nurses are trained in C-sections in the event that a c-section is necessary or planned.

Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women in San Diego, California brings in many support professionals to enhance the birthing experience. Social workers, clergy, and lactation specialists are at the ready. Women can also donate milk at the Mother’s Milk Depot for premature and sick babies in the area.

Baby Love Birth Center in Southwest Florida aims to make the birth experience  a truly memorable event. 3 private suites are offered to clients, each complete with its own sound system and a whirlpool tub for women desiring a water birth. A living-room style eating area and homey kitchen are available for waiting families to enjoy. The Baby Love Birth Center believes in waiting 10-30 minutes before clamping the umbilical cord, due to research suggesting it reduces anemia in babies. Clients are taught to manage their pain through optional hypnobirthing classes offered at the center prior to delivery.

There are many more excellent choices across the nation. By taking your time to visit some of the birth facilities near you, you will find the perfect place to welcome your new bundle of joy.

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•  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=baby&ex=1#ai:MP900409360|

Janelle P. is a nurse midwife in Dallas, TX .  She enjoys helping families enjoy the perfect birthing experience.  More of her expert advice can be found at Best Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degrees.

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Approved by the FDA, Homeopathy has been a widely used source of treatment by pregnant women around the world for over 200 years and is growing more and more popular as more women discover this safe and effective treatment.

What is most reassuring about Homeopathic treatments is the fact that when used in a targeted manner i.e., for heartburn or constipation there is no risk of any harm to the mother or her child as there is with traditional medicine. Homeopathic remedies are completely natural. Homeopathy can be used effectively for relief of a whole range of symptoms experienced during pregnancy such as:

Nausea

Morning Sickness

Excess salivation

Pain

Heartburn

Constipation
Homeopathy is Safe When Used as Prescribed
Although made from completely natural sources, homeopathic remedies are designed to target specific symptoms and/or cause desired processes within the body and as such, there is some risk contrary to popular belief. For example, certain herbs can harm the fetus if ingested while pregnant and others can cause complications. However, as I mentioned earlier, if used as directed and with guidance from a homeopath these treatments which have been tried and tested for over two hundred years are safer than conventional drugs.

Here is a list of safe homeopathic remedies that can be used during pregnancy. Keep in mind that homeopathy is the use of diluted natural ingredients, specially prepared for each case.

Herbs for use During Pregnancy to Treat Morning Sickness
Many women suffer from all-day morning sickness while pregnant and often don’t know how to relieve the awful symptoms. These remedies can help to alleviate their suffering.

Pulsatilla: For mild nausea.

Colchicum: For pregnant women who can’t even stomach the thought of food let alone the smell.

Ipecacuanha: For severe nausea made worse by constant salivating and the need to spit frequently.

Remedies for Heartburn

Pulsatilla: For mild heartburn that occurs at different times of the day.

Carbo Vegetabilis: For the more severe form of heartburn.
Backache and Ligament Pain

Kali Carbonicum: To relieve back pains.

Belladonna: Also to relieve back pain and works very well with older women in their first pregnancy.

Bellis Perennis: For pain extending from the groin to the legs.

Hemorrhoids and Constipation

Sepia: For use when one is suffering from a bloated feeling along with constipation.

Lycopodium: To help relieve constipation along with bleeding hemorrhoids and bloating.

Remedies for Insomnia

Coffea Crudum: To help when one is feeling energetic or too alert for sleep.

Aconite: To help when one is experiencing fear and nightmares.

Homeopathy is a Safer Alternative to Drugs
There are also remedies for labor pain and to help mothers heal after giving birth which is a great testament to the effectiveness of homeopathy and its remedies. Lacking the toxic elements of most traditional medicines, homeopathic remedies are a much safer alternative as each remedy is tailored for a specific set of symptoms and doesn’t leave behind anything that might harm the mother or baby. Modern drugs don’t just carry risks but are also expensive and that is where the safer, cheaper homeopathic treatments come in.

Kelly is an independent health expert that encourages the use of senior medical alert systems to help seniors protect themselves in case of medical urgency.

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