The Whole Nine Months

Nine months can seem like a long time at the beginning of pregnancy. From the pregnancy test and early pregnancy symptoms to the first contractions, it's almost a year! Though the truth of the matter is that you have so much going on that you may often forget about the whole span of time and focus on the here and now. I have gotten really good at this. The the issue for me becomes "waking up" at about seven months and realizing it's only a few weeks before the baby comes...

So if you're like me and like everything in a quick version, here is: Pregnancy: The Whole Nine Months or here is the Pregnancy Week by Week version if that's how you prefer it.

How do you calculate your pregnancy:

• Months
• Weeks
• Other (Please list in comments.)

See the poll results.

Related:

• Due Date Calculator
• Newly Pregnant
• Morning Sickness
  

  
  

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The Whole Nine Months originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Monday, September 13th, 2010 at 08:34:15.

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Family Size

Everyone discusses family size since the birth of the Suleman octuplets and I've been getting a lot of dirty looks when I take my kids out. Now, I only have eight. I do have one set of twins but they were spontaneous. But I have to say I'm tired of being judged for having a large family. Besides - what is the "right" number of kids?

Is the right number of kids something we should have mandated by the government? I don't think that would fly very well in the US. Is it how many bedrooms you have? Or seats in the car? How about we regulate the number of kids you have based on the amount of money you make or how many years of college you have? None of these sound like great ideas on a wide spread scale.

Do some people make decisions on these issues, yes. But one family might feel that their income would safely raise two kids and another with the same amount might this it would raise more, because there isn't one, right, clear cut answer.

Most people take into consideration finances, lifestyle, vehicle, personal preference, place where they live (city wise), home, how old their other children are etc. Some consider ecological and emotional beliefs when planning their families. And we also have to acknowledge that many babies are still not planned at all.

So what's your right answer and how did you come about deciding it? Join us in the conversation in the forums.

Related:

• Reasons You're Done Having Babies
• How did you know you were done having babies?

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Family Size originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Sunday, September 19th, 2010 at 08:16:58.

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Women hiding their pregnancy on planes!

Women hiding their pregnancy on planes! That's the headline I saw on my newsreader last night. My first thought was "seriously?" The article details a few instances where pregnant women have given birth on long haul flights.? While admitting it's not often, it certainly makes for a great story.

The real problem is that pregnant women will read this and be frightened about flying in the third trimester. Most airlines tell you that you can't fly in the final weeks of pregnancy or in labor.

Delta says that they don't really have any restrictions and pregnant women don't need a medical certificate to fly, but they advise that in the last month you check with your doctor or midwife.

The rules are different for United. They require that in the 9th month you have a letter from the last three days from your obstetrician (What about your midwife?) with your due date, that you're physically fit to fly and the dates and destinations of travel.

While Southwest Air says that they simply recommend that you don't fly after the 38th week.

So as you can see, the rules vary widely.? I personally flew at 37 weeks with my fourth baby. I knew I always went late, and I was.? I talked to my practitioner and I carried a copy of my prenatal records should I need care while I was in the other city, which was more likely than me needing help in the air.? I even had the name of a back up physician in the city in which I was traveling too (benefit of my job). A friend of mine who is pregnant told me that her obstetrician told her, in a low risk pregnancy, she's not to travel in the third trimester, at all. What?

The problem that flight attendants have is trying to figure out who is pregnant and how far along they might be.? Seriously, you think that there has been a big deal made over the weight issue?? Start accusing women of being pregnant when they aren't or telling a pregnant woman she looks like she's going to give birth at any moment!? That's dangerous.

So, what's your thought? Would you fly? If so, when and Why?

Related:

• Travel Tips
• Pregnancy & Car Travel
• Air Travel in Pregnancy
• Air Travel with Baby
• Hidden Pregnancies

Women hiding their pregnancy on planes! originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 at 09:42:43.

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Wordless Wednesday: Dads

Dads love babies!

Wordless Wednesday Submissions

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Wordless Wednesday: Dads originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 at 07:38:38.

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