3. I shouldn’t paint when pregnant.
or All Sport 2.
Faust recommends you follow usual precautions if you are going to be painting, but said there is no medical hazard for you to work with oil or latex-based paints. “There are no studies to show that it’s dangerous,” he said.
7. Can I have sex while pregnant?
4. Do I have to give up caffeine when pregnant? While consuming more than 30 ounces a day of any caffeinated beverage in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy can increase your risk for miscarriage, after that there are no studies to show caffeine’s a problem, Faust said. “We recommend keeping caffeine intake to the equivalent of less than 30 ounces a day in the first 13 weeks,” he said.
A pregnant woman’s sexual appetite can increase or decrease — both normal and caused by hormones. “As long as there is no history of problems, no ruptured membranes, no bleeding, no bleeding after intercourse or pain,” Faust said, it’s normal and healthy to have sex while pregnant. A woman also can have contractions after sex, but they should subside withing 15-20 minutes, he added.
8. I can’t see my dentist while pregnant. There is no reason not to keep up with dental care, Faust said. “We’d rather have them take care of their teeth than wait nine months and lose a tooth,” he said.
5. Do I have to quit eating fish when I’m pregnant? 9. I have to gain a lot of weight The concern centers around merduring pregnancy.
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cury, a chemical that can harm the fetus’s developing nervous system. The FDA/EPA Fish Consumption Advisory advises pregnant women to avoid types of fish that are higher in mercury — shark, swordfish, tilefish and king mackerel. Salmon (wild caught, if possible), sole, flounder, shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish are safer choices. “Historically we’ve told them no more than one can a week” of tuna, Faust said.
6. Why do I get headaches? The biggest reasons for headaches in the first 13 weeks, Faust said, are caffeine withdrawal, sleep deprivation, eye strain and sometimes dehydration. As long as you keep your caffeine intake to less than 30 ounces a day in the first 13 weeks, you can eliminate caffeine withdrawal, Faust said. Tylenol PM can help you sleep, he said, and sports rehydration drinks are very good to avoid dehydration. Faust suggests sticking with drinks low in sugar like G2, Powerade Zero
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While the average person gains 1725 pounds during a pregnancy, typically a woman gains more weight with her first pregnancy. “When you are overweight you don’t need to gain a lot of weight when you are pregnant,” Faust said. The good news is that the average person also loses 17-18 pounds before she leaves the hospital, he said.
10. I have to limit my exercise to walking. Not necessarily true. “In general we advise to continue to do what you are in shape for,” Faust said. While a pregnant woman will need to slow down over time, Faust said he recommends she stay active and get regular exercise. It can shorten labor and a woman can do better in labor and delivery, he said. And if you’re not a regular exerciser, Faust suggests walking. “Walking is as good of exercise as anything,” he said.
He’s a true gamer
i
It’s official. My 5-year-old son, Drew, is a gamer. He plays games like nobody’s business, and he usually wins, too! While Wii and Xbox are all the rage, Drew enjoys more old-school games. His favorites include Memory, Scooby-Doo Pop ‘N’ Race, Whacka-Mole and Candyland. He also loves to play Snakes and Ladders, a less-expensive version of Chutes and Ladders. After playing both versions, Drew declared Snakes and Ladders superior to Chutes and Ladders because of its use of dice instead of a spinner. I guess that’s how he rolls. The best part about Drew’s gaming happens when he asks someone to play with him. He’ll quietly walk over and ask, “Mommy, do you think you want to play a game with me?” I, of course, agree to play. After he beats me at whatever game he chooses, the shyness that he lured me in with disappears as a dimple-revealing smile appears and he exclaims, “I creamed you!”
by SETHANNE DEGABRIELE photo by JAKE RAJEWSKY Drew also has figured out who in the family to ask to play specific games. He knows that Mimsy and I prefer Scooby-Doo Pop ’N’ Race; Gramps likes Memory, Candyland and Whack-a-Mole; Mop Mop and Don enjoy losing at Memory; and his dad plays just about any game Drew picks. When Drew started getting into games, I would often miss a move or make an effort to let him win. I thought winning would build his confidence and he’d have more fun. After all, he is only 5. What I didn’t realize was how competitive — and good — Drew would become at games. Now, after discovering these facts I feel fine with actively trying to beat him. Yet I still usually lose! My only consolation rests in the fact that our entire family usually loses when they’re playing games with Drew. Drew also has discovered the video games at Buffalo Wild Wings. Needless to say, we now frequent Buffalo Wild Wings, also known as
Drew’s new favorite restaurant, more than I’d like to admit. From the second we sit down until the moment we get up to leave, Drew plays the beanbag toss game. Sure, he takes a break when it’s not his turn to eat a bite of his macaroni and cheese. But nothing else distracts Drew. And just like his other games, Drew almost always wins! Every once in a while, his dad or I will squeak out a win, but Drew usually “creams” us. His aim, precision and concentration amaze me. I also love hearing his play-byplay of all the gaming action on the way home from Buffalo Wild Wings. I’ve never had so much fun losing. Now that we’ve witnessed Drew’s enjoyment of and dedication to his games, we can only hope that he feels the same way about homework once he starts kindergarten next fall! Sethanne DeGabriele is a freelance writer who lives in Mason City with her husband, son and dogs. GLOBEGAZETTE.COM/WOW SPRING 2011
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