Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

You expect that you will be struggling to take care of yourself and the other members of your family during confinement, so how are you going to fit in caring for a small baby as well? It is quite normal to feel overwhelmed and scared as you go into this period of your life. You may wonder how you will ever care for this tiny creature once it arrives in your world, but in the end the answers will come and everything will get done.

Baby First

The first rule of thumb during confinement is that the baby's needs have to come first. If you are choosing between taking a much needed nap and feeding the baby who wants nourishment every couple hours, you have to stay awake and make sure the baby is fed. This may not be the comfortable thing to do, but it is something that every new mother has to contend with.

Your needs come second the moment your baby is born. They cannot look after their own needs and survive on their own, so they have to depend on you to do everything for them. If you don't take care of them, who will?

The best thing to do is hire a confinement nanny who can take care of many of the baby's needs while you take that much needed nap or just get a shower. You will of course still do a lot to care for the baby yourself, but you need someone there to help you out so your personal needs are taken care of as well.

Bonding Time

There are some things that you really want to take advantage of while you are in the confinement period and bonding with your new baby is at the top of the list. Them more you bond with the baby during the first couple months of their life the stronger your connection will be to them throughout their lifetime.

Take advantage of having the extra help of a confinement nanny and really spend quality time bonding with your baby. This happens as you watch them sleep in your arms or sit up with them for a midnight feeding.

Talk to the baby. Sing to them. Tell them how much you love them. Look into their eyes and allow them to grip your finger for security. Just let them know you are there for them. They may be small and unable to communicate intelligibly, but science has proven that they feel and need the love.

On Baby Time

Finally, it is important to forget about the clock that most people go by throughout their life and learn to live on baby time while in confinement. It really doesn't matter what time of day it is if your baby needs fed or has a dirty diaper. Babies are in their own little world and don't know how everyone else functions. That is how you need to be as well.

It is important to do things when you have the chance, rather than when you would routinely do them before having the baby. This means sleeping when the baby sleeps even it if is two in the afternoon and eating when the baby eats even if it is six in the morning.

Getting pregnant quickly takes a lot of effort. The first thing that you should do is start tracking your ovulation. You can purchase over the counter ovulation tests at your local pharmacy or grocery store. You should time your sexual intercourse to coincide with your ovulation window.

The second thing that you should do is reduce the stress that is in your life. Stress can cause you not to conceive so you need to relax and get enough sleep.

The third thing that you should do is start eating a balanced diet and get to a healthy weight. Overweight women have a harder time conceiving so you should try to lose a few pounds before trying to conceive if you are overweight.

The fourth thing that you should do is take folic acid supplements and prenatal vitamins. Folic acid and prenatal vitamins will help your baby develop properly; if you have these vitamins and minerals in your system before you conceive then you can help to reduce birth defects.

The fifth thing that you should do is stop drinking alcohol and smoking. Smoking and drinking during pregnancy can cause birth defects; you need to avoid exposing your unborn child to harmful chemicals and alcohol. Smoking cigarettes can make it harder for you to conceive and it has harmful effects on your own health.

The sixth thing that you should do is avoid being exposed to chemicals and toxins. You should eat and drink organic food products to keep your body as healthy as possible. You should avoid using a lot of household chemicals that have harsh fumes because they are bad for your health.

Conceiving a child quickly takes a lot of effort but these tips can help women increase their chances of conceiving quickly. If a year goes by and you are not pregnant then you should consult your gynecologist so that they can examine you and see if there is a medical issue that needs to be resolved.

For hundreds of years women have been long adorning themselves with fertility bracelets, jewelry and charms with the hope that the energy held within the stones increases their fertility. The many cultures of the world have long supported the idea that the natural powerful fertility energies held within stones and were made a part of their customs to adorn themselves in the hopes of getting pregnant. In celebration of their fertility and womanhood right of passage, they'd actually embellish themselves by selling the fertility stones into their garments.

Modern-day traditions support the belief that certain gemstones can assist women considered to be unable to have children to boost the odds that she would be able to get pregnant. Whether or not fertility jewelry holds the power to enhance your fertility can just be decided by the results you've got once you have put on an ovulation bracelet or fertility charm for quite a while.

Should you choose it to be your belief that the absolute most power fertility charms could have would be a good luck charm, many infertility bracelets are quite pretty to wear, and when it's your desire to get pregnant, what could be the harm. Furthermore a fertility bracelet has the advantage that every time you wear it you are re-inforcing the idea in your subconscious mind that you would like to conceive a child.

There isn't just one form of fertility stone, actually various cultures have their own unique customary native stone like the Rose Quartz, also known as the "love stone" considered to have much power to promote overall reproductive system health and wellbeing. Rhodonite is also believed to be an excellent fertility stone used to calm a woman's emotional behavior.

Chrysoprase is a kind of fertility stone thought to bring happiness, calm down her nerves and offer compassion, and Moonstone used for nurturing receptivity. To help with the woman's blood circulation, Bloodstone is believed to help aid overall health in boosting fertility by alleviating the body of blood clotting disorders.

The green garnet, Vessonite is thought to have the powerful energy to create an atmosphere for a stable pregnancy. Every one of the manifestation crystals within the Quartz family are a perfect choice when deciding which fertility stone in a bracelet that's best for you, because of its own natural capability to develop little "family clusters" on its own.

Whenever attempting to choose which fertility bracelet suits you, you should approach the final decision as if you would deciding on any other jewelry. Those specials stones that "speak" to you are most probably those that you truly need. Whether you choose to purchase some piece of fertile jewelry or actually make a fertility bracelet on your own, adorning yourself with all the fertile power from the stones of a fertility bracelet is simply yet another aid to realize your goals in getting pregnant.

What is post natal depression?

There is no doubt that the introduction of a baby into your life, no matter how loved and wanted, can cause a lot of emotional and physical stress if you are not prepared.

In our western culture, support for new mothers can be lacking because relatives often live far away and our friends may not be our immediate neighbours. Also, when your friends and family are with you, you may find that their expectations about how you should be feeling are not necessarily the same as yours. Alternatively, your feelings may not be as intense as you expect them to be immediately after birth and for some women, it can take some time before the feelings of love for the new baby develops.

For many women the pregnancy may have been a difficult one and the baby may not have been planned. Many things can influence the way that you initially feel about your new baby. These emotional stresses combined with a less than optimal level of nutrition and the obvious hormone changes that you will be experiencing post birth with perhaps a poor sleep pattern due to the babies demands can lead to post natal depression, and it is very common.

There are ways to both prevent and treat depressive thinking effectively without resorting to drugs.

So what are the symptoms of post natal depression?

Well it is no different from the symptoms of general depression, these can include:

o A lack of motivation

o Vivid dreaming

o Waking early feeling exhausted (this may be a normal part of early life with your baby of course, especially if he or she is not a good sleeper)

o A lack of pleasure in usually pleasurable activities

o Anxiety

o Black and white thinking (everything bad happens to me, everything good to others etc)

o Negative introspection and worrying

o Excessive guilt

o A loss of appetite

o Lethargy

o Reducing pleasurable activities

o A loss of libido

So how can you help prevent post natal depression?

The first thing to state is that most women don't actually get full depression but they tend to classify feeling weepy and a bit low as depression. This is quite normal and will pass after a few weeks so don't get too concerned if you do have mood swings or if you don't feel your usual self. It is probably due to the hormones changes that occur after birth as your body begins returning to normal, and remember you have been sharing your body with your baby for nine months and many women express a feeling akin to grief at this parting. So this is normal and will pass.

If you are concerned or you have suffered from depression in the past and want be prepared what can you do?

Well the good news is that relaxation and can be very effective at de-conditioning the emotional arousal that happens during depression. So planning time to practice active relaxation and using the techniques on the Second Nature Birth Programme will certainly be beneficial and will help you to prepare mentally for the birth.
Practicing the techniques will make it easier to relax after the birth and will be a powerful aid to de-stressing. We are far more able to cope with stress if we have a tool or method to help us relax.

Keep up some form of physical exercise. For example, if you are practicing yoga, do not give it up after birth. Go for long walks with your baby as soon as you feel comfortable enough and strong enough to do so. This would usually be at least three weeks after the birth and longer if you have had a caesarean. (consult your midwife for advice if you are unsure)

Join a local support network prior to the birth of your baby. A mother and toddlers group may offer exactly the support and shared experience that you need after the birth and a group like the National Childbirth Trust in the UK would be ideal.

Nutrition.

Remember your diet is as important if you are breast feeding as it is when you are pregnant. The following is especially pertinent to maintaining mental health through diet:

a. Supplement vitamins and minerals during pregnancy, particularly calcium, magnesium and zinc.

b. Eat a lot of oily fish, herring mackerel, sardines salmon and tuna are all good.

c. Supplement omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

d. Eat a lot of raw fruit and vegetables (organic if possible) and seeds.

e. Make up this mixture and use on breakfast cereal and in soups, one tablespoon a day. Make up equal quantities of sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and then three times the amount of flax (linseeds) together in a blender. Grind them until they are granulated and store the mixture in the fridge.

f. If you are constipated you may wish to use a few more flax seeds during the day separately as these will aid the digestion.

What else can you do?

Talk to your partner. Friends and family and discuss any concerns that you have before they arise. Do not wait for issues to sort themselves out as they have a habit of hanging around.

Plan for the birth. This may seem obvious, but what we mean are the less obvious aspects like:

Find out who among your family and friends will be willing to baby sit or offer you support you in other way. Knowing this will be very reassuring.

When you cook, double the quantities. This means that you will only need to cook half the time.

Talk to other mums and learn from them about what they did to cope with a new baby.

Book your nursery place well in advance if you are planning a return to work. If you are not then you will want to plan intellectual stimulation when you are at home with your baby especially if you have had a challenging career.

Treating post natal depression.

Most post natal depression disappears after a few weeks or months, but you will want to avoid unnecessary suffering, so seek help early. As psychotherapists, we see people with depression every day and know how effectively to help. So seeing a brief solution focused therapist may be the answer for you. Visit our site http://www.naturalchildbirth.co.uk
for more information.

Steve Griffiths DHyp Psych GHR HA. HB Prac. Steve is a brief solution focused psychotherapist working in Brighton and Hove

Article © 2005 Sussex Natural Childbirth. All rights reserved

Brought to you by http://www.naturalchildbirth.co.uk

So you are bringing your child home from the hospital. What should you do to get ready? You should understand what it is your wife or girlfriend just went through. The birthing process may be a beautiful event in your and the mother's life, but it is also a traumatic experience for both you and the mother. As a soldier and as a firefighter I was taught to press through emotional issues for the good of the mission. In this case your job is to ensure that the mother is comfortable and able to focus on recovery and childcare. The next month will set the tone. The mother should not have to worry about laundry, dishes, or other trivial things. This is your time to shine.

You might notice some emotional issues. The mother might have what are called the "Baby Blues." The mother has gone through the equivalent of an ecstasy trip and is now in for the "letdown." When the mother is pregnant there are a whole host of chemical changes that result in emotional changes. After birth the emotional roller-coaster will start to turn south. It is your job to ensure that the mother is able to handle the emotional changes. If this is her first child, she might feel inadequate whenever something goes wrong. Make sure to encourage her and not point out mistakes in any judgmental ways. If she wants to cry, be there for her and support her. Remember that this is not as much an emotional thing as it is a hormonal thing. She is not sad necessarily because of anything that happened. She is simply sad. She might even say that she doesn't know why. This is natural. The key is to avoid having the blues turn into postpartum depression. PPD is an actual medical issue that needs treatment. Going without treatment can lead to long term depression and all the things associated with it. Because it may be hard to distinguish between the blues and Postpartum Depression, I will lay out the differences and some signs to look for then determining whether your wife or girlfriend has the blues or Postpartum Depression.

Postpartum Blues or "Baby Blues" usually last for a week or two after the birth of your child. The characteristic emotional symptoms can be mood swings, irritability, and insomnia. She may feel overwhelmed and might say things indicating such. The peak of the postpartum symptoms is usually four days after the birth, and usually subsides after two weeks. More than half of women report feeling the blues shortly after giving birth. Make sure to report any blue feelings she may have to a doctor. Most of all, use common sense, Use encouraging words to help her get through it. Tell her she is doing great and don't point out little errors that may be insignificant. Although you may be in a relationship where little jokes are normal, please watch what you say during this period. Things she normally might think is funny could make her feel devastated.

Postpartum Depression is a totally different issue. It is a medical condition that needs monitoring. The symptoms are essentially the same as the blues, except it doesn't go away. It seems to slowly build up over the next few months and peak about 3 to 4 months after birth. The mother can experience hopelessness, or suffer from anxiety. She might feel empty inside. Things she used to love to do might not interest her anymore. She might feel guilty or worthless with no real cause. As you can tell, the feelings just seem to get worse. Make sure you do not ignore mention of suicide or thoughts of harming the baby. Please consult a physician if you suspect the mother is suffering from Postpartum Depression. PPD is a treatable condition and there is no need to feel as if it is hopeless.

Post-partum depression is incomprehensible, but it is natural since the mother understands that she has completely lost her freedom. Maternity is a big responsibility that frightens any woman who analyzes this matter, especially if she is inexperienced or afraid of repeating bad experiences she experienced or learned about through someone else.

Before the baby's arrival, the mother is only worried about its health, about how it will be born, the preparations for the new life, etc. She has many illusions and dreams. However, when the child is born and she suddenly understands that she is completely responsible for this new life, only then does she understand her real responsibility...

The baby is crying. She has to see what is happening and calm it down. The baby cries again. She has to do the same as before, no matter how tired she may be, and this is only the beginning. She cannot go anywhere: who will take care of the baby? It is too little, she cannot leave it with anyone and it cannot go to school and leave her alone for a while. The baby is totally dependent on her for everything.

She is young and wants to live her life. She wants to be a mother, not a slave. However, she starts feeling like a slave with everything she has to do for the baby.

When she thinks about the future, she imagines herself slaving like this for many years, only taking care of the kid...

This is how post-partum depression begins. It can turn into a neurosis and lead the affected mother even to commit suicide, which is a common event in our society.

What happens in this case is that the anti-conscience (wild conscience) starts influencing her thoughts and frightening her.

If you are a future mother or a young depressed mother, here are my tips to help you overcome your depression and continue triumphant in your journey of life:

1. Don't think that only you are the only one who has to raise your kid. Others will help you a lot in this mission and with gratitude because you'll give them this pleasure, since they'll love your kid as much as you do. Let the baby's grandmother and grandfather, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends help; in particular, let the baby's father... Let everyone help you raise your kid and stop imagining that only you will be the absolute person responsible for its life: you are not alone.

2. If for any reason you are alone and you don't have anyone's support, things are really difficult for you. However, you should not lose hope because if you are right and love your child, enduring all the suffering in the beginning, God will help you and you will find many ways to raise your child, receiving help from people that you never imagined would ever care for you and your baby. You only have to believe in God and try to be a good mother, waiting for the support that will surely come.

3. If you don't believe in God, start believing because many scientific proofs of His existence have been found through dream interpretation, biology, astronomy, physics and many other fields of research. You need faith, especially in this period of your life.

4. The beginning is always difficult, but with time you will feel comfortable in your new role as a mother and you'll immensely love your baby. The satisfaction you will receive when admiring your child will be the best reward you could ever ask for in life, even though you may be tired and you cannot feel anything past your depression when you look at the baby and you think about your life being responsible for everything in the baby's life.

5. You'll learn many important lessons as a mother! First of all, you'll go back in time and remember your own childhood. You'll learn again the meaning of life through your baby.

6. Some day your child will make you proud, help you in many ways and will be the most precious person in this world for you! Now you cannot see its personality, he or she is not yet a grown-up person. The baby is only a sapling. Later, you'll discover the continuation of yourself in this kid and this feeling will give you peace and satisfaction!

If you are hoping to conceive, you might be wondering if there is a special diet to help you get pregnant. We have all read much about the impact of the foods we eat on our wellbeing and there are indeed certain foods to increase the chances of conception.

First of all, it is essential that you cut out any obviously unhealthy elements of your diet. For example, if you drink alcohol, then it is advisable to stop that altogether. It also goes without saying that you should stop smoking too.

With regard to your diet, sticking to the principles of a healthy diet is important, such as cutting out saturated fats, foods with additives, white sugars and over-processed carbohydrates and fizzy drinks. Generally, it is wise to consume foods which are as close to their natural state as possible.

A diet to help you get pregnant should ideally include the following 10 foods as these will increase the chances of conception:-

* Kelp-This is iodine-rich and good for ovarian function. It is nutrient rich and can be used in stews, casseroles and soups

* Broccoli-A well-known superfood. Great for general reproductive health. Helps regulate hormones

* Hemp Seeds-Good balance of essential fats as well as GLA. Good for skin and hormone health

* Fish-Great for overall female health. Very nutrient rich

* Wholegrains-Fiber-rich for a healthy digestive tract. Contains magnesium which is great for the reproductive system

* Avocados-Good source of Vitamin E which can help with PMS

* Brazil Nuts-3 a day will give you enough selenium, which is vital for reproductive health

* Aduki Beans-Nourishing and cleansing. Great for keeping weight in balance

* Rye Bread-Nutritious and easy to digest. If you eat bread-go for this type

* Nettle Tea-A good overall energiser and source of iron. Drink a couple of cups daily during your period

What Does Acupuncture Actually Mean?

Acupuncture involves inserting and sometimes manipulating very thin needles into very specific points in the body. It's similar to physical therapy in that it is a process-oriented (i.e. ongoing) method of intervention. The insertion of the various needles are said to stimulate energy flow "Qi" (tee). Treatments for women with infertility commonly last three to four months spanning the time prior to insemination and after IVF. It's important to note that a commitment to acupuncture treatment means more than turning yourself over for needle manipulation. Most practitioners trained in Chinese medicine will conduct a complete physical workup that includes examination of the color of the tongue and taking of the pulse. The information from these preliminary activities helps the practitioner to understand the blood flow, body fluid balance and energy levels of the particular patient.

How Could Acupuncture Help a Woman Get Pregnant?

Because acupuncture appears to increase blood flow to vital organs, it may help in the regulation of hormone levels, and even improve ovarian and follicular function, making for healthier eggs. Also, blood flow to the uterus may increase, permitting for a thick lining of the endometrium that increases the chances that the uterus will hold implanted eggs to term with no miscarriage. For these reasons, it is not unrealistic to assume (and a few studies even seem to suggest) that acupuncture may improve the success rate of medical interventions such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Acupuncture is not going to help a woman get pregnant if her problem stems from something that needs surgical correction, such as a blockage in her fallopian tubes. But, in the special case of spasmed fallopian tubes (as opposed to blocked tubes) there may be some relief through acupuncture -- there have been cases in which spasmed tubes are de-spasmed (and therefore opened up) with acupuncture. That can be critical, because fallopian tubes must be open to permit an egg to travel past the cervix where it can be either inseminated or harvested.

Further, sometimes Acupuncture is combined with herbal medicine to treat hormonal imbalances, irregularities in a woman's menstrual cycle, and even some male factor infertility.

What do the Studies Really Say?

While many advocates claim that acupuncture can relieve almost any medical condition, it is now somewhat accepted that acupuncture can at least temporarily relieve pain and even regulate blood pressure by stimulating the central nervous system. These effects are achieved because the use of acupuncture causes the body to release endorphins which inhibit pain and gives the body the feeling of wellness. Endorphins may also release certain neurotransmitters and neurohormones, which some say encourage the body to heal itself.

A few studies have suggested acupuncture's benefits specifically when used in conjunction with IVF. A small German study in 2002 demonstrated a near doubling of pregnancy rates for women who received acupuncture both shortly before and shortly after embryo transfer. Another study in Great Britain produced similar results -- this study showed the odds of conceiving increased by about 65 percent for women who received acupuncture shortly before and after IVF procedures. Dr. Paul C. Magarelli, an infertility doctor at the Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., is co-author of an ongoing study into the use of acupuncture with IVF with Dr. Diane K. Cridennda, a licensed acupuncturist. While Magarelli was initially skeptical, he says he has been convinced by the data in his study that acupuncture improves a woman's chances of getting pregnant with IVF, and holding that pregnancy to term.

All of these studies were small in scale. One board-certified endocrinologist with the Reproductive Medicine Group in Tampa, Florida, Samuel Tarantino, acknowledges that existing studies have yielded good information, but the evidence is not yet sufficient to support a claim that acupuncture is a proven treatment for infertility. He attributes some of the reported success to a placebo effect. In other words, "if a patient believes it will work, it will work because of that. The brain has an intense power to heal itself." "It's impossible to say at this point," said Dr. Robert Schenken, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, is another fertility specialist who feels that not enough controlled data from human clinical studies has been produced to draw any conclusions about acupuncture's effectiveness with infertile women.

If I want to use Acupuncture as Part of my Treatment, How Do I Go About It?

An increasing number of fertility centers have begun to offer acupuncture as an option as part of an IVF treatment protocol (bear in mind that even if your clinic offers it or gives you a referral, Insurance usually doesn't cover the cost of acupuncture, and a single treatment can cost anywhere from $75 up to $90). If you plan to use acupuncture as part of your overall treatment plan, consider beginning treatment three to four months before a medical procedure like artificial insemination or (IVF). Then, continue treatments both before and after insemination or embryo transfer. Do be sure to use an licensed acupuncturist with experience treating fertility. Your acupuncturist should not place needles in the abdomino-pelvic area after insemination or transfer.There is some risk that inadvertent mistakes in the placement of the needles by an acupuncturist who has not studied fertility could contribute to a miscarriage.

Deciding where you want to give birth can be a little overwhelming. The important thing is to find what you feel is right for you. The best way to go about making this big decision is the good old pros and cons list. Its simply, easy and clear!

Hospital birth, Birthing Center, Or Home Birth?

Let's review some of the pros and cons. Hospital birth pros:

• Suggested birthing place if high risk.


• If anything goes wrong you have immediate medical assistance.


• You can get some rest while the nurses take care of your baby.


• The room service is always nice!

• Chance of being coaxed into getting drugs is high.


• You are not usually able to move freely and birth in different positions.


• Getting stuck with needles and signing paper in between contractions is never fun!


• Births are usually viewed as a medical condition rather than being viewed as natural.


• Risks of being induced, cesarean section and unnecessary medical intervention is higher!


• The initial bonding between parents and babies is delayed.


• There is always...the hospital food!

• They Support natural birthing!


• Its sorta like getting the best parts of a hospital birth with a home birth feel.


• Health care providers include nurse-midwives, direct-entry midwives, or nurses working with an obstetrician.


• You will not get coaxed into an epidural or other drugs.


• Low Hospital Transfer Rate!


• May be free-standing, on hospital grounds or inside a hospital building.


• More birthing options such as positions, birthing balls and water birthing.

• Not recommended for high risk pregnancies!


• If medically necessary you will have to be transferred to a hospital.


• If you change your mind about birthing naturally there usually are no drugs available.

• You are in the comfort of your own home! This can be very stress relieving!


• No signing of papers or fetal heart monitors holding you down!


• Midwifes are educated on handling problems that may arise.


• You can give birth to your baby and climb right into your own bed.


• More birthing options such as positions, birthing balls and water birthing.


• Bonding between baby and parents is uninterrupted and highly supported.

• If Something goes medially wrong you may have to be transferred to a hospital.


• You do not get room service unless you hire them!


• You must plan for help if you already have children so your able to rest.

These are just the basics to get you started in weighing the pros and cons of where you want to birth your baby. Its important to communicate with your partner about what you want to experience during the birth of your baby. Talk to your care provider about what the best options are for you when delivering your baby. You may find that your care provider is not the right one for you. You should shop around for a care provider that is in alignment with your beliefs around natural childbirth. Never forget this is the birth of your baby and you have a choice in how the birth takes place and with the right support you can do it the way you always dreamed of!

The average guinea pig pregnancy lasts from sixty to seventy days. Many experts suggest that the length of pregnancy is actually tied to litter size. Longer pregnancies frequently indicate smaller litters whereas shorter pregnancies commonly yield large litters. The average litter size is four puppies but the number can range from one to eight babies.

What a Pregnant Guinea Pig Needs

More Vitamin C! The average guinea pig needs about five milligrams of vitamin C per pound body weight. A pregnant piggy will need twice this amount. Great fresh food sources of vitamin C include red bell peppers, parsley, spinach, mustard greens, kale, and broccoli.

More Food and Veggies! This is a time when a mother needs more food and fresh vegetables in order to develop healthy babies. The extra calories, especially from just a little bit more sugar than usual (think fruits) will work wonders for preventing serious complications such as pregnancy toxemia. Consider adding alfalfa (both in pellet form and fresh) as this is higher in calories and calcium than timothy hay.

Extra Room! Mothers will grow tremendously in size as their litters develop. Many pregnant guinea pigs have been known to strongly resemble eggplants in fact! Overcrowding and jostling in a cage with other guinea pigs can frequently increase the stress of the expectant mother, which can lead to health complications. The mother does not need to be moved right away but once she begins to show signs of discomfort this is a good idea.

No stress! Pregnant mothers are very sensitive to stress during pregnancy. Unnecessary transport, illnesses, crowding, and unexpected change can all lead to miscarriages, premature births, and stillborn babies. Keep an eye on the pregnant mother and if illness of any kind is suspect seek veterinary assistance right away.

Don't Forget Playtime! Just because your piggy is pregnant doesn't mean she should get out and about, so don't forget daily playtime. Also, find sneaky ways to trick your guinea pig into moving more within her own cage. Keep the hut at one end, food at another, and water somewhere else. This will naturally maintain activity.

What She Doesn't Need

Excessive weight gain. Bigger is not better and obesity increases the chance of pregnancy complications like toxemia.

Problems to Watch Out For

Young Mothers - This is frequently a problem when purchasing guinea pigs from pet stores. All it takes is sexing one baby guinea pig incorrectly and placing him or her in the wrong cage. One of the biggest problems for young mothers is being simply too small to deliver safely. How small is too small? Anything under 500g. If this describes your situation be sure to contact an experienced guinea pig veterinarian to get advice. He or she can assist you in developing a nutritional plan that will keep the size of the mother and litter down without causing malnutrition. Make extra effort to add foods containing sugar.

Pregnancy Toxemia -Toxemia is caused by insufficient consumption of calories, which leads to the mother's body attempting to survive off its own stored energy and tissue. Toxemia is usually fatal. Toxemia is known to have multiple causes. The first is the inability to get enough nutrients to the mother and/or the developing babies. Sometimes this is caused by the mother's inability to eat due to the weight of the developing litter upon her stomach. Other times the weight of the litter will stop blood from flowing normally around the uterus due to compressed blood vessels - preventing nutrients and oxygen from reaching the fetuses, resulting in their death. Toxemia can also be brought on by stress or malnutrition. Signs of toxemia include listlessness, not eating, signs of fat loss, and sometimes cold extremities.

A Week Before Birth

Make sure the pregnant female is kept completely separate from all males starting a week before the expected birth. Mothers will be extremely fertile right after birth and pregnancy is almost guaranteed. This would be especially hard on the poor piggy's body so make sure this is avoided!

Make sure you have the emergency contact information for your veterinarian in the event you experience birth complications.

Have a separate shoebox put aside with warm cloths and a hot water bottle in case you have any abandoned babies or problems with terrified mothers. The extra warmth will be vital to keeping the babies alive.

Birth

Usually there are not any indications birth is eminent, it just happens. Luckily, there isn't anything that you need to do to prepare for the birth of the babies other than just being available in case of problems. A normal birth will result in each baby emerging covered in a fluid filled sack. The mother will reach down and break open the sack, and clean the baby. If the sack is not opened by the mother the baby will suffocate. If you see this happen, be prepared to break open the sack yourself and get the baby breathing. After the birth is over the mother will then eat the placenta - don't worry, this is normal.

Complications

Sometimes mothers will reject a baby and chase him or her away from the litter. In this case your only option is to raise the baby yourself or find a foster mother. In other cases you will see the mother develop an irrational fear of her own babies. Sometimes the problem can be resolved by separating the babies from the mother and reintroducing them gently one at a time. Otherwise the babies will have to be handfed or fostered.

Signs Something is Going Wrong - Call Your Vet

Birth typically takes less than thirty minutes. Anything longer is a sign that there is a problem and the life of the mother and babies could be at risk.

If birth appears to end but you can see there is still a baby or babies waiting to be born.

After Birth

Weight the mother and the babies. Continue to weight everyone daily. This will be your best early indicator if something is wrong. Sometimes certain babies don't get enough milk and they need more time alone with the mother. Other times the mother is unable to produce enough milk. If this is the case you will want to supplement the babies with additional food.