Ask the Pros
Birth Plans
Birth Stories
Bookstore
Boy or Girl
Cesareans
Chat Room
Complications
Doulas
Educators
Episiotomy
FAQs
Feeding Baby
Fertility
Finding a Class
Health
Interactive
Labor
Message Board
Monitoring
Newborns
Postcards
Postpartum
Pregnancy
Reviews/Awards
Search
VBAC
Week by Week

Ask A Childbirth Educator
Questions and Answer

Preconception

Who decides the gender of the baby, mom or dad?
What happens if you get pregnant after going off the pill, but before the waiting period is over?
Will I have trouble getting pregnant with low body fat?
Will a previous abortion cause me problems when I do get pregnant?

Pregnancy

Is sleeping on the right side harmful?
Which aromatherapies can I use?
Will raising my arms above my head strangle the baby?

Testing in Pregnancy

What is a stress test?
How many ultrasounds will I have?
When can I be sure the home tests are right?
What extra tests will I have because I'm over 35?

Exercise

Do I have to give up my exercise and weight lifting routine?

Body Changes

Does pregnancy make it more likely you'll get yeast infections?
At 17 weeks I have a clear discharge from my breasts, is it okay?
I'm 11 weeks and in maternity clothes, what's the deal?

Sex in Pregnancy

Are orgasm and sex okay?
I had a miscarriage last pregnancy, can I have sex?
My wife has a discharge after sex, is it normal?

Siblings

How much do I tell my 5 year-old when she asks about the baby?

Pregnancy Complaints

Still fatigued at 29 weeks?
Is it possible to have a period during pregnancy?
How soon should Braxton-Hicks contractions start?
I always feel like I'm going to fall and my ears pop, is it normal?
Is there anything I can do about stretch marks?
What should I take for headaches?
Should I be having white discharge?
Is pubic bone pain normal?
If I get a cold, what should I take?
I have low blood sugar, what should I do while pregnant?
Is a backache normal and what can I do about it?

Complications

Can I prevent a kidney infection?
I've been told I have an enlarged uterus, should I worry?
Is cramping a sign of miscarriage?
Is bleeding at 4 weeks normal?
Will rheumatoid arthritis be bothered by my pregnancy?

Chemicals, Exposure & Disease

Can my cat sleep on the bed?
Can my wife change the kitty litter?
I was exposed to roseola, what now?
Can I color my hair while pregnant?
How does alcohol affect the fetus?
My wife has been painting, is this bad?
What are the dangers of aspartame and caffeine?
Can I use a tanning bed?
Which aromatherapies should I avoid?
Can computers harm me?
Our cats stay indoors, do I still need to avoid kitty litter?
I had an x-ray and then found out I was pregnant, what harm have I caused?
Is prenatal exposure to Rhogam bad for the baby?

Nutrition

I've had an aversion to green vegetables. Will my baby suffer??
I've been craving dirt and clay, what's wrong with me?
What are the dangers of aspartame and caffeine?
I've gained 20 lbs in 2 months, how do I keep from weighing 200lbs.?
What kind of fiber can I take while pregnant?

Twins and more!

Can they tell with ultrasound if my twins are fraternal or not?
What are the risks if my twins share the sac?

Insurance and Costs

How much does it cost to have a baby?

Karen Klimsak-Ungar, CCE has been a certified childbirth educator for Birth Works® since 1996. She is currently Managing Editor for the Birth Works newsletter, sits on the Birth Works Board of Directors, and serves on their National Trainee Review Committee. A happily married mother of two, she also continues to teach Birth Works classes as well as private classes.

Karen will answer your questions on fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and babies. Her advice does not take the place of your practitioner. Personal answers will not always be possible.