A lot of women who have navel piercings opt to remove their belly button rings for the duration of their pregnancy. But does one really have to? It all depends on the wearer.

As long as the piercings have completely healed and you don't feel uncomfortable, then by all means, continue to wear your belly jewelry. You probably just need to take extra care that it doesn't get caught on garments and such as your belly expands. Or you might want to consider switching to other belly rings that are more appropriate for your pregnant belly:

Long barbell. When regular belly jewelry first becomes uncomfortable, often around the third or fourth month of pregnancy, a woman can switch her regular jewelry for a long, curved barbell. The extra length allows the stretching skin around the piercing more room to spread out as the belly protrudes.

Acrylic retainer. If metallic jewelry becomes uncomfortable due to its weight, a lightweight acrylic barbell or retainer may provide relief. Acrylic retainers may come with threadable balls or rubber o-rings to secure the ends. Small rubber o-rings may allow extra room along the shaft of the jewelry, however, they slide off more easily than threadable balls.

Two-Inch Flexible Bar. Extra long barbells, or belly bars, made especially for use during pregnancy or for use after surgical procedures allow all the length and flexibility a pregnant woman will likely need. Belly bars are typically made of a threadable, cut-to-size, plastic such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), which is hypoallergenic and is used to make surgical implants.

If you decide to do away with the belly ring altogether, you might want to replace it simply with a fishing line to keep the holes from closing.

Getting a navel or nipple piercing during pregnancy, however, is a different story. Since the skin expands during pregnancy, it will be more difficult for the holes to heal, thereby increasing the risk of infections.

A recent study indicates that mothers who experience extreme stress during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to children who develop schizophrenia. We're not talking of day-to-day stresses that feels a bit more aggravating because of hormonal and bodily changes. This study refers to women who experience something comparable to a natural disaster such as an earthquake or hurricane, a terrorist attack, or a sudden bereavement.

Malaspina and her colleagues looked at birth data for 88,829 people born in Jerusalem from 1964 to 1976 and cross-referenced it with Israel's national psychiatry registry.

They found that the offspring of women who were in their second month of pregnancy during the height of the Arab-Israel war in June of 1967 - also known as the "Six Day War" - showed a significantly higher rate of schizophrenia as they entered adulthood.

These observations also confirm an earlier report on the effect of bereavement during pregnancy and on the likelihood that the child will develop schizophrenia.

A total of 7,331 schizophrenia cases were identified among Danes born between 1973 and 1995 over at least two decades of follow-up.

Being born to a mother who had a close relative die during her first trimester was found to be associated with a 67% increased risk for schizophrenia.

Clearly, the maternal psychological state, particularly durign the first trimester, has a grave impact on the mental health of her baby.

Don't do this, don't do that. Avoid this, skip that. The list of things that are supposed to be unsafe for pregnant women gets longer and longer. It must be a major miracle that we were all born alive and well, because I'm sure our mothers never got to know of these things. Here's a fun, but informative article from the NY Times that puts pregnancy paranoia into perspective:

Tanning spray and acrylic-nail preparations? Might have toxic chemicals. (They might, doctors said. Probably not enough to harm a fetus, however.) Chocolate mousse, depending on how it is prepared, might have uncooked egg whites. (Which can cause food poisoning, so some doctors say to avoid the dessert.) Manicures and bikini waxes might cause infections. (Possible, experts say, but doubtful.) Hot tubs and saunas might raise body temperature to dangerous levels, harming the embryo or fetus. (Ditto.)

Mobile phones, computers and television sets could emit harmful electromagnetic radiation. (Not true, according to the latest research.) Underwire bras might damage milk ducts, depriving a baby of proper nutrition. (No doctor interviewed for this article had heard of such a thing.)

How much of these pose real danger? How much is hype and pure paranoia? Read the entire article here.

The short answer: it depends.

It depends on the freshness and source of the fish used. The American Pregnancy Association says that mercury levels may pose danger, so you must avoid sushi made of those types that contain high levels of mercury such as Kajiki (swordfish), Saba (mackerel), Shark and Tilefish.

Aside from mercury poisoning, you also risk contracting bacterial and parasite infection from eating raw fish. This may not harm your baby per se, but well, YOU don't really want to be pregnant and sick, do you?

If you're really craving for sushi, go for the non-fish types. There's california maki and a variety of vegetarian sushi rolls you could enjoy without having to worry.

While many new mothers start out breastfeeding, a lot quit and switch to formula-feeding their babies after a few weeks. While there are many factors that can influence how long a mother breastfeeds her child, a big factor is the lack of support.

Although it's the most natural thing to do, breastfeeding does not come instinctively to a lot of us. It is a learned skill, and one that requires a lot of patience and perseverance. Without support, a new mom way well give up earlier than otherwise.

If you're planning to breastfeed, be sure to arm yourself with information way before you deliver your child. Knowledge is indeed power in this case. Know what possible issues and challenges to expect. Seek help and encouragement from your partner, relatives, and friends who are supportive of your decision to breastfeed. Find out the contact numbers of a lactation consultant or a La Leche League chapter near you, and don't hesitate to seek advice when you encounter difficulties. No matter what the issue is, there is almost always a solution, if you're willing.

A couple in Eqypt - already having 3 girls as kids - turned to IVF (in-vitro fertilization) in hoping to try for a boy. Instead the woman gave birth to septulets: four boys and three girls.

The babies are said to weigh between 1.45 and 2.8kg (3-6lb); the couple already have three girls.

They sought fertility treatment hoping to have a boy, and were said to be astonished at the multiple pregnancy

According to experts, septulets are quite rare, much less to have them survive all. Multiple pregnancy is a common 'side effect' of IVF-assisted pregnancies.

Story and Photo Source: BBC News