When you think of labor you see yourself in a hospital or on a table pushing out your baby, but truthfully it starts long before any of that.
You can be in the first stage of labor at home for more than a week without even knowing it. In this article, we’ll go over each stage so you know all about labor and what to expect during this exciting time.
***Have You taken a prenatal birth course yet? Don’t have time? Here’s the best Premium online birthing course and the first part of it’s totally free! You will learn absolutely everything you need to know and it will help tremendously so make sure you sign up. A Class is a must and I think the online ones are the best. Here’s a free Birth Planner Too!
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The 4 Stages Of Labor
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First Stage Of Labor
The first stage of labor is the longest and it involves three parts of its own. It usually begins when you’re at home and you’re unaware.
The early labor begins when your cervix starts to dilate and lasts till you are about 4cm.
You won’t likely even notice anything is going on at this point although you may be having very small waves of contractions that aren’t even painful.
What to expect during this phase:
This stage can last a few days
Your cervix will dilate to 4cm
You’ll have contractions every 5 to 20 minutes and they’ll only last about 30 seconds
contractions may be mild and hardly noticeable
The second part of the first stage is when you begin active labor. It begins at 4cm and ends at 7cm. At this point, you will likely have very real labor pain and it may be hard to talk.
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This is the period when you may want to head on over to the hospital. Especially when you have contractions every 4 minutes that last up to 60 seconds. From this point on your body will dilate about 1cm per hour.
What to expect during this phase:
This stage can last 5-24 hours
Your cervix will move from 4cm to 7cm
Contractions will last about a minute and be 5-7 minutes apart
Contractions will feel stronger and longer
You will need to head to the hospital at this point
The third part of stage one is the transition stage when you dilate all the way to 10cm. This is definitely the most painful part of labor.
Your contractions will come quickly and last for as long as a minute and a half. Once you are to 10cm, you’ll move on to the second stage of labor.
What to expect during this phase:
This phase can last 5-8 hours as well depending on many factors but usually goes quicker
You will go from 7cm to fully dilated
Your contractions can last up to 90 seconds and only be 30 seconds to 2 minutes apart giving you little rest in between
This phase is the hardest but shortest and you’ll have your baby during this time
The 2nd stage of labor is the time when you’re fully dilated and your baby begins moving down the birth canal.
You’ll have very intense contractions that help move the baby down further and the pressure inside your body will be immense.
You may feel the urge to push soon and it feels similar to the urge to push when you have a bowel movement.
The length of the 2nd stage of labor varies from person to person but for new mamas who have never had a baby the time can be long. It took me three and a half hours to push my first babe out. Whew, it was hard work.
But the second and third were a breeze.
The length can vary by what position you are in and by the size of your baby as well.
Your doc will want you to push when you have a contraction and rest when your body relaxes. You may become vocal or grunt during the height of the contractions because it is very painful, as you know.
Once your baby is all the way down you’ll be ready to push him completely out.
You will likely experience the ring of fire unless you’ve had the Epidural, in which case you’ll feel nothing.
After he is born you’ll move into the third stage of labor.
The Third Stage Of Labor
Congrats your baby has been born. But there’s more to do.
You will continue to have contractions because the placenta has to be birthed as well.
Often times a nurse will massage your contracting abdomen to help the placenta detach and come down quickly.
This is not fun and it does hurt. The nurse was pretty brutal with my already tender body each time.
But it ends quickly and the placenta is usually birthed within 5 to 20 minutes.
Then you move on to the Fourth Stage of Labor.
The Fourth Stage Of Labor
You’ve probably heard that there are three stages to labor but there are indeed fourth stages.
This stage is the two or three hours after birth when the tone of the uterus is reestablished as the uterus contracts again, expelling any remaining birthing materials.
These contractions are hastened by breastfeeding, which stimulates the production of the hormone oxytocin. This hormone works to tighten everything back up and put it back in its rightful place.
It’s a great idea to begin breastfeeding right away once your baby is born to speed up this process.
If you want to learn more about breastfeeding I recommend taking this course right here. It’s only $19 and you’ll be a breastfeeding pro afterward.
So those are the 4 stages of labor. Sounds like a lot of work doesn’t it? But it’s well worth the effort, knowing you’ll soon meet your new best friend.
The best of luck to you mama.
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There’s nothing cuter than a baby with a unique Viking Or Swedish Name. Their names conjure up images of Game Of Thrones Characters and the like.
I have created an awesome list of 22 Viking Baby names that I think you’ll love. They will fit your little princess or King quite well.
Just a note: I love the idea of helping you pick out a name for your baby. I think it’s really special, plus you’re gonna really enjoy the sassy photos that go along with each name. Check out these kiddos below.
Let’s have a look!
22 Cute Viking Baby Names That You’ll Love
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Aaron
Aaron means mountain of strength. What a strong, interesting twist to this age-old traditional name.
Bjorn
This is the name of one of my favorite characters on The History Channel’s Vikings. He is awesome, wild and strong. He has something in him that cannot be tamed and he has strong family roots believing family comes above all else. The name Bjorn means Bear. I really love this one!
Asha
Asha is a baby girl name that literally means life. How Cool is that? I’m loving it!
Myrcella
Myrcella refers to Princess. What better name for your little princess? I like this one because it sounds old yet it’s unique and new at the same time.
Asger
Asger means the spear of god. Just wow, how powerful is that?
Nymeria
Nymeria means strong warrior queen. Are you having a little queen?
Benjen
Benjen means the son of the south. Pretty cute, am I right? This is a really unique boy name and I dig it.
Theon
Theon means Godly. I think it’s quite lovely, Don’t you?
Aslaug
Aslaug means Woman engaged to god. I love this name so much because once again, it reminds me of one of my favorite characters on the Vikings show. She was the princess that marries Ragnar.
Ragnar
Ragnar, as mentioned above, is the most well-known king of the Viking Tribes. It an awesome, commanding name and it’s not something you’re gonna hear any other parent calling their child.
Dagny
Dagny means a new day started. What an absolutely perfect name for a newborn girl.
Freja
Freja is a truly beautiful name that means like a lady. How lovely is that? If I had another girl I think I would name her this one.
And Here’s A List Of 10 More Viking Names:
Ros (Girl)
Sansa (Girl)
Shae (Girl)
Jorah (Boy Or A Girl)
Kevin (Boy)
Loras (Boy)
Talisa (Girl)
Yara (Girl)
Jojen (Boy)
Olenna (Girl)
I hope you found something that inspires you on this List of Viking Names. Perhaps you found that one of them is just right for your new babe. Enjoy!
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Many women swear that there are certain symptoms that will come with a girl pregnancy vs a boy pregnancy and I am one of them. I’ve had 3 babies, 2 boys and 1 girl and at least for me, there was a huge difference in the symptoms of both types of pregnancies.
Some say it’s an old wives tale that you can tell the difference but I believe there is some evidence that says otherwise, even a few studies I’ll link to.
I decided to write this post because I got such an amazing response to my post “How to get pregnant with a girl” ( Read it here ), so I thought I would write about the symptoms of being pregnant with a girl as an add on.
***Have You taken a prenatal birth course yet? Don’t have time? Here’s the best Premium online birthing course and the first part of it’s totally free! You will learn absolutely everything you need to know and it will help tremendously so make sure you sign up. A Class is a must and I think the online ones are the best. Here’s a free Birth Planner Too!
So what are the symptoms of having a baby girl in the womb? Read on to find out!
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Baby Girl Symptoms during Early Pregnancy
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Mood Swings
All pregnancies create dramatic mood swings. It’s the hurricane of hormones inside of you.
But it has been said many times by many women that if you’re feeling more depressed and generally more irritable then you may have a baby girl in the womb.
There are studies that do show a difference in hormone concentrations from male to female so this could be the reason that things can vary between the two.
Particularly, hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin, the hormone responsible for a positive home pregnancy test can be higher with female pregnancies and can remain that way throughout your entire pregnancy.
This could very well account for your extra moodiness among other things.
Morning Sickness
Terrible morning sickness can happen with either a boy or a girl, but there’s a study that does correlate higher levels of morning sickness with being pregnant with a girl.
Again, it’s that coming into play. Here’s the study if you want to have a look for yourself. You can also read about how to control morning sickness really well right here.
**Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.
Weight Gain
Another side effect of having a girl seems to be gaining more weight all around. This was very true for me.
I was belly only with both my boys. But in my third pregnancy with a girl, I had all the symptoms on this list and more. But I especially had more weight gain.
Some people may tell you that the things on this list are old wives tales but are they?
I believe they do have some truth in them. One of the reasons this may be true is because you also have higher oestrogen levels when you a baby girl in the womb.
According to this study, in the first half of pregnancy oestrogen levels were around 9% higher for pregnancies when the baby was girls, and progesterone levels were lower in the second trimester.
Apparently, stress levels can have an effect on the sex of the baby as well. Based on this study there was a link between levels of the stress hormone cortisol and the male to female birth ratio.
This is related to stress levels before pregnancy though.
In the study, women with high levels of cortisol before conception were statistically more likely to have a girl.
No One wants to be extra stressed but If you are somehow you are more likely to have the girl you want, so at least there’s that.
Higher Heart rate
Can the heart rate predict your baby’s sex? Well, many say this is a myth and perhaps it is mostly but there does seem to be a correlation between higher heart rate and having a girl, at least some of the time.
Can you depend on this method of prediction? Probably not, but it’s fun to try and notice the heartbeat and see if it turns out to be true for you.
There does seem to be a documented difference during labor when the female rate is considerably faster. So at least it holds true during this time, but I’m guessing by then you already know the sex of your baby.
Skin Acne
Skin Acne comes back down to those pesky hormones again. Women have elevated levels of certain hormones during pregnancy when pregnant with a girl.
This can cause more skin eruptions and painful cyst like pimples on your face, especially around your chin area.
It’s unfortunate but there’s not much you can do about it since it’s hormonal. Just try not to pick.
Boob Size
Once again we’re back to hormones. The higher the levels of certain hormones the Sooner your breasts will balloon out and the bigger they’ll get. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Once you have your baby they’ll get even bigger when your milk comes in so be sure to wear a very supportive bra. You can learn how to prevent sagging while pregnant and breastfeeding in this article right here. Here’s another post about firming them up after the whole ordeal is over.
Most of these are pretty good Baby Girl Symptoms during Early Pregnancy. They can help you make a fairly good guess on whether or not you’re having a girl. After all, there’s a fifty percent chance you’re right!
Enjoy your pregnancy 😉
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You are ready to get pregnant and you want a baby girl.
You may think you cannot choose but there are some things that can sway the odds in your direction.
While some have said this is impossible there are least a few things that seem to work and it certainly doesn’t hurt to try. Make sure you read this full article because once you do you will come away from it feeling very confident that you’ll be able to conceive the girl that you want!
***Have You taken a prenatal birth course yet? Don’t have time? Here’s the best Premium online birthing course and the first part of it’s totally free! You will learn absolutely everything you need to know and it will help tremendously so make sure you sign up. A Class is a must and I think the online ones are the best. Here’s a free Birth Planner Too!
There is a specific method created by a Doctor that many swear by. This is one of the main things I’ll discuss with you here today.
There are a few other things that people believe help as well and we’ll go into those too.
Please Note: These methods seem to work for some but I can’t guarantee any results. All You can do is try and see. Good Luck Litte Mama!
This Post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps me keep my blog up and running and I only list products that I have and have used myself. You can have a look at my Disclosure here.
How To Get Pregnant With A Girl
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Shettles Method
The Shettles Method was a method created for gender selection by Dr. Shettles In the 1960s. The science behind it is about sperm mobility and timing.
He tested sperm and believed that the male sperm is smaller, weaker and faster than the female sperm, which is bigger, stronger and slower. If you timed your sex just right one type of sperm would have the advantage over the other.
He said that if you have sex really close to when you actually ovulate then you were more likely to have a boy because the sperm can move so much faster then the female sperm. It almost always makes it to the egg first. Pretty sound advice right?
So if you want to have a girl you should have sex a few days before you actually ovulate. This gives time for the male sperm to die off and leaves you with a pretty strong chance of getting pregnant with a girl, at least according to the good doc.
**Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.
Doctor Shettles claims that his methods for a boy have a success rate of 80-85% and the methods for a girl are a little less at 75-80%. Here’s his book if you’d like to read it.
Tracking ovulation is key to getting the Shettles Method right. You need to know exactly when you’re about to ovulate so you can get your timing right on point.
A good ovulation kit like this one can help you learn how your cycle works and that will teach you a lot about your body and help you get the baby girl you crave so much.
It turns out Your PH Levels matter a lot when it comes to keeping your partner’s sperm alive no matter what sex you want your baby to be.
The optimal vaginal pH to maintain sperm viability and motility ranges from 7.0 to 8.5. In fact, a reduction in sperm motility is seen at a vaginal pH of less than 6.0.
The alkaline pH of semen protects sperm temporarily but if your vagina is really acidic then you may have problems getting pregnant. Weird right?
If you find you are way out of balance you can use this special product right here to help. It works great so give it a try!
Eating Right May Actually Effect The Sex Of Your Baby
According to this study, Women who generally ate less and had lowered blood glucose would be more likely to conceive a baby girl naturally. The idea is that the lowered blood glucose made it more difficult for the male sperm to survive.
Eating healthy is always a good idea but apparently doing so while restricting calories slightly is a win-win when you’re trying to conceive a girl so eat the rainbow mamas and do good.
Avoid Sinus And Cold Medicine
Using Sinus and cold medicine can dry up mucus. That includes vaginal and cervical mucus. This can make it really hard for sperm to travel and get to where it needs to go.
So these medications are a definite no-no if you’re trying to get pregnant with a girl ( or a boy obviously ).
No Orgasm ;(
According to some fertility experts when the female orgasm releases an alkaline secretion which may help boy sperm to survive longer, by creating a less hostile environment.
We want those male sperms to die off so this won’t do. If you truly want to conceive a baby girl naturally then you may need to skip the orgasm, just this once 😉
Take A Hot Bath
Girl sperm are thought to tolerate warm environments and higher temperatures better than their male counterparts. So take a warm bath before sex to slow down that male sperm. Just don’t get your bath too hot or it will harm both types of sperm.
Position Can Help Too
Position can make a difference too! They say the missionary position is best with a shallow ejaculation.
This keeps the sperm as far away as possible from the cervix. The female sperm has more of a fighting chance since they live longer than their male counterparts.
The males may die off trying to reach the cervix while the female sperms remain more resilient. So staying low and shallow gives those girls a fighting chance.
AVOID USING LUBRICANTS
Lubricants make your vagina too acidic or they can be too thick. Some of the ingredients may kill the sperm outright too.
The best way to loob up is to get lots of foreplay in. Your natural lubrication is by far the best option when it comes to trying to conceive a baby girl naturally.
The Baby Dust Method
There is one other popular way to try gender-selective conception.
Kathryn Taylor introduces a natural sex-selection approach known as *The Babydust Method,* which is based on the latest scientific evidence. This book details the science behind the method and explains how you can dramatically increase your chances of conceiving the sex of your choice.
I’m not going to go into the details of this book but If you’re really wanting to get pregnant with a girl then you should absolutely read this book. It’s excellent. You can check it out below.
If you really want to get pregnant with a girl, and I know you do, these are the best ways hands down. So try them all and keep these tips in mind and watch the magic happen!
I wish you the best of luck and don’t forget to enjoy the process!
If you loved this post and found it helpful it would be awesome if you could share it or save it on Pinterest! You can use the special images below that I created for you! Thanks!
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Being pregnant is an exciting time but it’s hard to enjoy it when you are about to vomit constantly. And the problem with Morning sickness for many women is that it’s often all day sickness.
Aversions are usually a part of the picture as well, meaning you have no appetite for foods you once loved. When the only thing that will really prevent you from vomiting is eating, yet everything grosses you out you’ve got problems.
But there are some really good ways to deal with morning sickness and that’s what we’re gonna talk about now.
This Post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps me keep my blog up and running and I only list products that I have and have used myself. You can have a look at my Disclosure here.
8 Ways To Slay Your Morning Sickness So You Can Enjoy Your Pregnancy
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Vitamin B6
Studies have suggested many times that taking vitamin B6 for morning sickness greatly improves nausea for many pregnant women. There has been no sign of harm to the fetus with vitamin B6 use.
Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.
Sea Bands
These Sea-Bands have been specially created to help soothe and calm your tummy during your pregnancy so that you can start enjoying your special time again. They use acupressure points to relieve nausea. They do seem to work well. I used them during all three of my pregnancies. You can find them here.
Ginger Tea
Ginger tea homemade or bought is one of the single most effective remedies for Morning Sickness. The Ginger relaxes your stomach muscles and calms the whole system.
Eating as soon as you get up will help regulate your blood sugar and fill your tummy so that nausea can subside quickly. Eating protein and fat during the day are the best choices and they will really help settle your stomach.
Eating frequent small meals throughout the day will also work wonders for you.
Fresh lemon juice with a bit of salt is an effective remedy for morning sickness. You can also use ginger to the lemon water to knock that nausea right out.
Science says just the scent of citrus fruits helps with nausea somehow too so don’t forget to cut the lemon yourself and take in that fresh layered scent.
Try Different Prenatal Vitamins
Take it from me ( I’ve had three babes ) some prenatal vitamins will make morning sickness so much worse than others. For some, they are even the sole source of the trouble to begin with and changing vitamins remedies the problem completely.
Some vitamins are just way too heavy on ingredients and iron and will cause the worst nausea ever. You can buy a prenatal that is specially formulated not to make you sick. These Pink Stork Liquid prenatals are an excellent choice.
***Have You taken a prenatal birth course yet? Don’t have time? Here’s the best Premium online birthing course and the first part of it’s totally free! You will learn absolutely everything you need to know and it will help tremendously so make sure you sign up. A Class is a must and I think the online ones are the best. Here’s a free Birth Planner Too!
Suck On Preggie Pops
Preggie pops are an awesome way to knock out your morning sickness too. You can carry them around and grab one as needed. They are infused with ginger so they relax the GI tract as I mentioned earlier. Pink Stork makes a great one.
Ask Your doc about it
If you try all the remedies above and nothing is really working it’s time to talk to your doc. There are several very safe meds you can take for morning sickness that the doc can prescribe to you if necessary.
Don’t feel bad about this. If you need medication, you need it. Ideally, no one wants to take medicine while pregnant but sometimes it’s the only choice.
If you loved this post and found it helpful it would be awesome if you could share it or save it on Pinterest! You can use the special images below that I created for you! Thanks!
If you want to save this post as a PDF you can do so by going to the top of the post and clicking on the purple button.
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Hey, I’m Toni and I’m the mama of 3 Little Birds. I love Writing about Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and the life of a Mum. Learn more about me here. Grab a Tea or Coffee and come on in..
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