Your Questions About Natural Pregnancy Book

Maria asks…

pregnancy and hair dye?

Okay so I’m 37 weeks, and I was wanting to get my hair dyed back to my natural color. I tried looking into my book of dos and donts that my doctors office gave me and they never once mentioned hair dye. But last time I was pregnant (the same doctors office) told me I can dye my hair once in third trimester…

Can you dye your hair in pregnancy? If so when is a good time?

Michelle answers:

It is safe – only very trace amounts get into your system and so far, tests are inconclusive if it does damage. I asked my obgyn and he said it should be perfectly safe – if you have doubts, then know that the riskiest time is the first trimester for anything. I’m 31 weeks and I’ve dyed my hair twice so far. My baby is fine.

Joseph asks…

CS- Which do you take more issue with about breeding?

I’m in the UK and I’m watching, at this moment, a program called Animal 24/7, which is about the RSPCA- I don’t care if you agree with them or not, the program is interesting- and one of the cases is, as it often seems to be, with a cat hoarder. Which do you personally take more issue with? (Sorry, a bit lengthy!)

1.) A hoarder with 10+ cats/kittens, non fixed or vaccinated with the cats becoming a part of the mental disorder that makes them hoard. The hoarder lives in an urban or suburban area but is very cluttered and tends to keep everything they find and are often antisocial and apart from the rest of society, and the cats just become a part of that, almost a collection rather than animals, though they do claim and probably do love them a lot. They don’t have a lot of animal knowledge/common sense and may have started with only one or two cats without the education to know they need fixing (because money may not have been an issue for a couple of cats, it’s just now when it’s become multiple numbers) and then the group grew. They don’t seek help online (either on forums like this or just Googling) but may own one or two books about cats. Their cats still breed like mad, diseases spread easily (lack of money/common sense to get them treated) and often groups like the RSPCA have to step in. They don’t make OR lose money from this situation- they just /have/ cats and the cats just do as they want.

2.) A ‘normal’, middle class family who get a cat (female, let’s say for example’s sake) and choose not to get it fixed. They can afford it, they know what fixing means, but they want her to be breeding either because of ignorance, wanting to make money (let’s say she’s just a moggy, not a purebreed of any sort) or because of some spool like ‘wanting their kids to experience the miracle of birth’. So the cat gets pregnant as soon as her body is able. The family don’t own a book on cat care because it’s ‘just a cat’ and as soon as the tell tale signs of heat come through, the breeding questions start, on here and via Google. They ask for help with EVERYTHING and ignore any information about the vet (they have the money but can’t be bothered, think it’s natural and the cat won’t need help etc.) and often bring their questions onto a public forum and act insulted when people tell them the cat should be spayed or at least visiting a vet. They don’t know what they’re going to do with the kittens but they’re sure it’ll resolve itself- the daughter Susie has a couple of friends who wouldn’t mind a kitten, or there’s always shelters. Because it’s not active neglect (the cat is still feed, given water, flea treatment etc.) the RSPCA etc. won’t get involved but there’s still a chance they’ll be involved somewhere down the line because of a.) The kittens not finding homes and ending up in RSPCA shelters or b.) the kittens finding homes but not being suitable/forever homes causing the society to get involved at a later date. They’ll probably keep the cat unfixed either forever or until she starts getting complications from repeated pregnancies and births, but they’re unlikely to get a mass of kittens and any cats they do keep are unlikely to get/stay unwell.

In my mind, the worse situation is the second one- a middle class family choosing to get a pet as part of their family, having no excuse not to get the thing fixed, and dragging out what happens on a public forum, whereas situation one is almost an extension of mental illness (though that’s no excuse).

What do you think? What boils your blood more? Even if you think there’s no public forum involved in either situation (so one still doesn’t seek help, and family two only uses Google and premade sites, not involving other people) which one would make you more annoyed to hear/see about?

Michelle answers:

I think I have to agree with you. The first situation, with a hoarder, well, animal hoarding is part of mental illness. I feel compassion for the human, and for the animals in such a situation. I hope that such persons quickly find the help they need. There is no question of a moral or ethical failing here. Mental illness is not just “in their heads” but truly in the biochemical interactions in the brain. The second situation is a matter of ethical failing. The adults in the family are refusing to acquire the knowledge of how to care for a pet in advance of getting the pet, and expecting others to take up the responsibility for them.

Donald asks…

Is anyone else feeling a bit scared/panicky about giving birth? Also, what about homebirth?

It really hit me last night for some reason! I was having some strong Braxton Hicks (I’m 27 weeks) and it reminded me of just how incredibly painful/scary labour was last time with my son. He was my first baby and I hadn’t really known what to expect, but the latent phase of labour was much longer, and phenomenally more painful, than I’d been led to expect it would be, plus the “pushing” stage was long and agonising! I’ve been told that it might/should be easier (as in shorter) this time round but then of course you get the “OMG my second was worse than my first” horror stories (my husband’s mother is big on those as on all sorts of medical scare stories) which don’t help . . .

Also I really feel like I want a homebirth this time – (I had my son in a midwife-led birth centre so no epidurals etc, I wasn’t planning on one anyway) and didn’t really use any pain releif so thats not an issue – I just hated being moved from home to the birth centre when I was in real pain and felt I would have been able to sleep and relax much better in my own bed afterwards. This time I also really don’t want to be separated from my three year old son for too long by going elsewhere. But my husband is totally against homebirths (I think his mother has put this into his mind, he listens to her too much even though she is fairly ignorant about these things) and so I’ve been booked for the Birth Centre again . . . but I don’t really want to go there!!! Can I change my mind? And do you think that my husband should try to respect my decision, seeing that I’m the one who will be giving birth and not him? Obviously I know that if there are any “problems” I won’t be able to have a homebirth but my pregnancy has been totally straightforward and is not “high risk” in any way, and having had a natural, unmedicated birth before I think I would be a good candidate . . .any advice??

(PS not interested in rants about homebirths being “dangerous” etc, they are popular here in Wales and always medically managed. Noone with a complicated/risky pregnancy would be allowed to have one anyway . . . )
Zoz – Diolch yn Fawr . . !

Michelle answers:

Bore Da 😀

You certainly do sound like an excellent candidate for a home birth based on your previous labour and seems to me like you’d cope really well if you had an umedicated birth last time.

I wouldn’t let your mother in law fill you with horror stories, if your labour goes ahead like last time, then having the bub at home would only make the experience better.

I can’t comment on 2nd labours as i’m only 21 weeks into my second pregnancy myself. But it sounds like you did a fab job of it last time, so if i were in your shoes i’d be feeling pretty confident and going ahead with a home birth.

You can change your mind at any stage before labour about where you wish to have your baby, nothing is set in stone at this stage so speak to your midwife at your next appointment.

I’m sure hubby will come around to your way of thinking once you tell him, you have made up your mind.

Pob Lwc 😀

Sharon asks…

38 weeks pregnant and in soo much distress :(?

i have a severe rash all over my arms, legs, feet , hips and bum!! been to the docs twice and all the creams they have given me irrate it im booked in for a blood test tues and have midwife the same day a week before im due!! which is how long u have to wait for the results.. i have been stuck in my house cos the the heat and clothes irritate it, im currently smothered in natural yoghurt to try 2 reduce the soreness its making me even more emotional and stressed, just wondering if anyone has had similar problems and what they done to help the problem? first pregnancy and at this moment in time its going to be my last ………

Michelle answers:

Although I have no idea what is causing your rash, they sound like hives and I get them quite a bit. One thing that helps for me is a cold compress. I use one of those gel ice packs and place it on the rash. You might also be able to use Benedryl cream — ask your midwife first. Avoid the heat, like you said you are doing, and try really really really hard not to scratch. Scratching will only make it worse. Good luck with your delivery!

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