What Not To Do When You're Pregnant

When you are pregnant, especially when you're around the 7 month mark and your belly begins to look like you're smuggling sporting goods under your shirt, it is inadvisable that you fall when walking on ice. If you should happen to find yourself loosing your balance, you should try to catch yourself or maneuver to a position that will cause the least injury when you do make contact with the ground. The preferred method of catching yourself would be with your hands, or even falling on your knees would suffice. If you can finagle a way to turn to land on your rump that wold be the best option of all. Whatever you do, do not do as I did and use your protruding stomach to catch yourself.

Belly flopping on ice is not a pleasant experience, for yourself or your growing baby. It will result in increased worry about the well-being of your baby, as well as a likely discomfort in your ribs and a general achiness all over your body for several days. You will undoubtedly be told to go to the hospital, where you and your baby will be hooked up to monitors for 4-6 hours to be sure that you haven't cause the onset of labor. A sonogram will likely be performed to be sure that there isn't any blood pooling in your uterus and to ensure that the placenta hasn't detached itself from the uterine wall. A pelvic check will be performed to check that you aren't dilating, and after you are given the all clear you will then be released to go home around 2 a.m. to pick your child up from your parents house, feeling sore from your bruised ribs and stupid for having fallen victim to one of the most common of winter injuries.

If you do have to go out on the ice this winter, I suggest wearing cleats. And always be sure your husband is prepared with crossword puzzles to keep you amused while you whittle away the hours, praying that your baby is ok. There are no T.V.s in the perinatal observation rooms, so you will have to have alternative forms of entertainment available. But when all is said and done, you will be grateful that your mind was put at ease with the knowledge that your growing baby will be ok.