Absolutely.

Exercise during pregnancy can help prepare you for labor and childbirth. Exercising afterward can help get you back into shape. The changes in pregnancy may affect your ability to exercise. Ligaments that support your joints become more relaxed in pregnancy and makes joints more mobile and prone to injury. Avoid jerky, bouncy, or high impact motions. Remember that the extra weight in the front of your body shifts your center of gravity and can make you less stable and more likely to lose your balance and fall, especially later in pregnancy. Try to exercise moderately so you don’t get tired quickly. If you are able to talk normally while exercising, you heart rate is at an acceptable level.

Most forms of exercise are safe in pregnancy. After the first trimester of pregnancy, you should not do exercises that require you to lie flat on your back. Brisk walking, swimming, stationary cycling and aerobics are all good forms of exercise during pregnancy, even for beginners. Other exercises, like running, racquet sports, and strength training, if done in moderation, are safe for women who have done them for a while before pregnancy. The following activities should be avoided in pregnancy: skiing, contact sports like hockey, soccer, and basketball, and scuba diving.

AVOID SEAFOOD HIGH IN MERCURY (High levels can damage the baby’s nervous system)

• Swordfish
• Tilefish
• King Mackerel
• Shark
• Tuna

AVOID RAW, UNDERCOOKED, OR CONTAMINATED SEAFOOD

• No raw sushi
• No raw shellfish, especially oysters and clams
• Avoid refrigerated smoked seafood, such as lox

AVOID UNDERCOOKED MEAT, POULTRY, AND EGGS

• Fully cook all meats and poultry before eating.
• Cook hot dogs and warm processed deli meats until they’re steaming hot or just avoid them completely.
• Avoid refrigerated pates and meat spreads.
• Don’t buy raw poultry that has been pre-stuffed.
• Cook egg whites and yolks until they are firm.

AVOID UNPASTEURIZED FOODS

• Avoid soft cheeses that are not clearly labeled as being made with pasteurized milk.
• Brie
• Feta
• Camembert
• Blue cheese
• Mexican-style cheeses, such as queso blanco, queso fresco, and panela
• Avoid unpasteurized juice

Abnormal bleeding may include any of the following situations: bleeding between periods, bleeding after sex, spotting anytime in the menstrual cycle, bleeding heavier or for more days than normal, or bleeding after menopause. It can have many causes. Often, it may be caused by hormonal imbalance. Other causes include:

• pregnancy
• miscarriage
• ectopic pregnancy
• problems linked to some birth control methods, such as an intrauterine device (IUD) or birth control pills
• infection of the uterus or cervix
• fibroids
• problems with blood clotting
• polyps
• certain types of cancers, such as cancer of the uterus, cervix, or vagina
• chronic medical conditions (for instance, thyroid problems and diabetes)

• Do not use feminine hygiene sprays or scented deodorant tampons.
• Do not try to cover up a bad odor. It could be a sign of infection that should prompt you to see your doctor.
• Do not douche. It is better to let the vagina cleanse itself. Douching can actually cause infections.
• Thoroughly clean diaphragms, cervical caps, and spermicide applicators after each use.
• Use condoms during sex.
• Check with your doctor about preventing yeast infections if you are prescribed antibiotics for another type of infection.

You may forget to take a pill once in a while.

If you forget to take one pill, take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at the normal time. It is okay if you have to take two pills in the same day. It is normal to feel a bit queasy if you do this.

If you forget to take two or more pills, use a backup method of birth control. Call your doctor or nurse, and ask what you should do.

If you miss some pills, you may have some spotting or light bleeding even if you make up the missed pills. These side effects are not harmful.

If you have a 28-day combination pill pack or a 91-day extended-use pack and forget to take one of the last seven “reminder” pills (pills without hormones), do not worry. Throw away the reminder pills you missed. Keep taking one pill a day until the pack is empty. You should start your new pack of pills on the same day of the week that you started your first pack.

There are long term reversible forms of contraception, such as Implanon (effective for 3 years, Mirena Intrauterine System (effective for 5 years), and Paraguard Intrauterine Device (effective for 10 years). Permanent forms of contraception include vasectomy, laparoscopic tubal ligation and Essure. In a vasectomy, the vas deferens in a male are tied, cut, and sealed to prevent the release of sperm. In a laparoscopic tubal ligation, small incisions are made on the abdomen and the fallopian tubes are sealed by using a ring, clip, or electric current. This is done in the hospital in an outpatient setting. With Essure, a camera is inserted through the vagina into the uterus and tiny spring-like devices are placed into each fallopian tube. This device causes scar tissue to build up in the tubes and prevents the sperm from reaching the egg. This can be done in the office setting with no skin incisions.