How Soon is too Soon to Determine Baby’s Gender?
November 1, 2006
My children are six and three, but when I look back at pictures of myself in my maternity clothes and compare them to my sister’s current maternity wardrobe, it’s like I was pregnant back in the 70′s. Maternity clothes have come a long, long way in just the last couple of years!
The other thing that surprises me is how much more sophisticated the prenatal testing is getting. Now, as early as 11 weeks into the pregnancy, doctors are offering a First Trimester Prenatal Screening and Ultrasound Exam. This “Early Screen” is a blood test combined with an 11-13 week ultrasound exam to determine if you have an increased chance of having a baby with Down Syndrome or Trisomy 18 or 13.
If you are pregnant, you need to get all the details on these tests from your doctor. I’m only going to tell you about the little bonus that goes with having an ultrasound so early in the pregnancy.
And the bonus is. . .you can usually find out, with 80% accuracy, the gender of your child. At only 11 weeks into the pregnancy! I had to wait until I was in the 18-22 week range when I was expecting.
But, how soon is too soon to really determine gender? Do we want to know what we might be having if it’s only with 80% accuracy? I mean you go into it with a 50/50 chance to begin with.
Let us know if you’ve had the “Early Screen” and whether or not you found out what you were having. And, most importantly, if you did find out at such an early stage of pregnancy, was the prediction correct?
Catch Dr. Oz on Oprah
October 24, 2006
If you hear that Dr. Oz is going to be on Oprah, trust me, it’s worth watching. He gives amazing advice and tips on living a healthy lifestyle, eating right and even how to look younger! Plus, he gives some pretty graphical details on what’s happening inside your body if you are not eating right. I find it very motivational (and scary)!
Check out his Hall of Fame and Hall of Shame foods on Oprah.com. He’s also part of Oprah’s new XM Satellite Radio Oprah & Friends broadcasts.
In case you are going to the grocery store today, be sure to pick up some of these Hall of Fame foods:
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Tomatoes
- Spinach
- Nuts
- Pomegranate
Share your healthy eating tips with us!
Eat Smarter, It’s Easy with these 7 Tips
October 20, 2006
I found some great tips on Oprah.com called “Seven Simple Ways to Eat Smart.” Regular exercise is essential for our bodies and our minds, but I know I get busy. Sometimes the workout gets skipped. That’s why I think it’s really important to eat well, eat smart and eat right. Check out these tips from Essential Tidbits for Mindful Eating in the November 2006 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine.
- Beware of buying in bulk! People who stock up at discount stores eat up to 48 percent more. If you buy snacks in bulk, get the portion-size bags rather than eating out of the giant box.
- The time you spend sitting at the table affects the amount of food you eat. If you dine with one friend, you’ll eat 35% more; with a group of seven, 96% more! But eating alone is no fun.
- Pre-plate your food in the kitchen rather than at the table where you’ll be more tempted for seconds.
- The buffet rule: put only two items at a time on your plate. Even if you make repeated trips, you’ll still eat less.
- Always eat in the same room of your house, but not in front of the TV or computer. (Yes, eating in front of the computer is dangerous. I know this!!)
- Don’t leave serving dishes on the table unless they’re filled with vegetables. (This seems like a great way to get the kidos to eat more veggies.)
- Know the difference between emotional hunger and physical hunger. The former develops suddenly while the latter builds gradually.
Great tips! Thanks Oprah.com. I know the SharpMoms will love these.
