The Stork Reality

Weekend Plans

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:26:51 +0000

Sammy already works too hard—if women heeded his advice, then Sammy would have more time to celebrate on holidays rather than delivering unexpected, and perhaps unhealthy, babies to surprised mothers.

Stork Gym

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:24:20 +0000

You may not be expecting a baby, but Sammy the Stork wants you to know that 50% of pregnancies are not planned. An unexpected pregnancy is a very real possibility, so you might as well take care of yourself and put in a few hours at the gym just in case.

Exercise is good for everyone, whether you are expecting or not. Even storks need to get a few squats in here and there.

Oops!

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:23:49 +0000

It’s not so easy to get the nutrients you need just anywhere, like at a food court in the mall. Women should go out of their way to get fresh produce, specifically dark leafy greens from their local supermarket or farmer’s market, and to take a daily multivitamin with 400 mg of folic acid.

Kiss The Baby

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:23:10 +0000

Katie has just received an unexpected bundle of joy from Sammy while drinking with friends. Unfortunately this happens more than we’re comfortable with, and as Sammy points out, the fact is 50% of pregnancies are unplanned.

Folic Acid

trumpet — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:21:45 +0000

Directing Traffic

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:20:56 +0000

The best way to prepare for the unexpected is to simply take care of yourself. Make sure you eat lots of dark leafy greens, take a daily multivitamin with 400 mg of folic acid, and slow down on the drinking and smoking. Your body, and your baby, will thank you for it.

Bar

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:41:58 +0000

Sammy has a few important deliveries to make, and since he’s showing up at a bar, it looks like these bundles of joy are completely unexpected, as half of pregnancies are. The best thing to do is to be aware of the possibility that pregnancy can happen, and to take proper precaution to either guard against it or live a healthy lifestyle for yourself and your baby.

Pregnancy Facts and Eating Healthy

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:30:04 +0000

Eating healthy during your pregnancy is just as important as feeding your baby the right foods after birth. This video is a reality check to a New Orleans Mexican restaurant goers who find out many of them could be pregnant!

Just because you’re eating out doesn’t mean you can’t eat healthy. Choose foods high in nutrients when eating out, such as salads, fresh vegetables, and whole grain breads. Meat can be an important source of iron, especially if you choose the leaner varieties of meat such as poultry.

It’s also important to avoid excessive use of alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine for general health.

A little nutritional planning can mean the world to your baby’s health, and yours!

Pregnant? Add Folic Acid to Your Diet!

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:31:22 +0000

Women who eat at least 400 micrograms (that’s .4 miligrams) of folic acid each day before they get pregnant, as well as during early pregnancy, are improving their babies’ chances of being born healthy. This nutrient, found in kale, spinach, cabbage, and orange juice, can reduce the chances of neural tube defects such as spina bifida in newborns by as much as seventy percent.

These neural tube defects are already formed before most women know they’re pregnant, so it’s important that folic acid become a regular part of your diet. Furthermore, since half of pregnancies are unplanned, it’s important that every woman of childbearing age take pro-active steps to improve her diet, including folic acid intake. Folic acid is important in building a fetus’ DNA, and it’s just plain good for you.

Sammy tries to eat healthy in the drive-thru because eating right is important before, during and after pregnancy. He’s not very successful when asking for the fresh fruits and vegetables that he needs to deliver strong healthy babies. Watch as this fast food restaurant gives him the ol’ run around. Lettuce and cheese anyone?

Tobacco and Alcohol: Dangerous to Mother and Baby

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:30:13 +0000

Sammy waits for his lunch date, and discusses the importance of staying healthy before pregnancy. Since fifty percent of pregnancies are unplanned, it’s important for women of childbearing age to stay healthy. This includes abstaining from alcohol and tobacco.

Nearly forty thousand babies are born in the United States each year with birth defects related to alcohol consumption before birth. Babies born to mothers who drink alcohol can be born with heart defects, mental retardation, and emotional and behavioral disorders, to name a few. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome contributes to more mental retardation in newborns than any other known cause, and is the only preventable cause of mental retardation. Drinking during pregnancy can also cause premature labor and stillbirth.

Smoking tobacco during pregnancy can cause problems for both you and your baby. Women who smoke are more likely to have complications during their pregnancy such as placenta previa, which can lead to bed rest and pain. Babies born to mothers who smoke tend to have low birth weight, are born prematurely more often, and are more likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The best way to prevent complications to your pregnancy and ensure you have a healthy baby is not to drink or smoke, before and during your pregnancy.