You asked and Ann answered!

Thank you for visiting our Facebook page and asking Ann your general parenting questions. Ann Douglas is the author of 29 books and creator of The Mother of All Books ® series. This July she releases a second edition of her popular book The Mother of All Pregnancy Books. She's also the mother of four kids -- so she means it when she says "Been there." She is a great resource, and our first expert in the new VIP - Very Important to Parenting series. You asked your best parenting questions and Ann answered. Check out what Ann has to say. To learn more about Ann - read a bio and interview and visit her website.

Q: Hi Ann! I'm 26 weeks into my first pregnancy, and everything has been going smoothly so far. I'm worried about my diet, particularly getting enough protein for baby. Red meat is not palatable to me right now - in fact, my stomach seems queasy at the sight of most types of meat these days. Are there any tricks or tips you could provide me to make sure I'm eating well for both baby and I?

A: I'm happy to hear that you're feeling so well (other than the odd bit of queasiness). You
may want to talk to your doctor or midwife (or a registered dietitian) about the advisability of taking an iron supplement if you're finding it difficult to consume enough protein. As you probably know, many women end up being iron-deficient toward the end of pregnancy; and if you're finding a lot of  protein sources unpalatable, your iron sources may be starting to dwindle. There are both liquid and capsule forms of iron available. (If you're finding it difficult to keep capsules down right now -- a problem for many pregnant women -- you may want to go with the liquid version.)

With regard to keeping protein in your diet, if beans/legumes, eggs, and/or cheese are easier to stomach right now, enjoy those foods right now. You can also enjoy certain types of fish and seafood products, in moderation. 

If you're looking for meal ideas, call your local public health unit and ask them to send you information on eating well during pregnancy. Or check out their website. Public health units in Canada are an excellent(and often overlooked) source of nutrition-related information and ideas for people of all ages and at all life stages.

Q: I'm 33 weeks along and am experiencing severe pain in my lower back. I don't think it's sciatica as many have suggested - the pain seems to be around my coccyx, and it's often painful to walk, especially up stairs. The pain is not constant but comes about after either long periods on my feet or lying down(sleeping). Sitting is also often very uncomfortable making it difficult to relax. Is there anything you can recommend I do (or avoid) to help
alleviate or prevent the pain?

A: I'm so sorry that you're in so much pain. I experienced something similar to what you're experiencing right now during my last pregnancy and it was really tough. I remember hobbling (as opposed to dancing) at one of my best friend's weddings -- and constantly having to change positions during the speeches at the reception. Ah, the memories.....

If you haven't done so already, you should talk to your doctor or midwife about what you're experiencing. And I mean right now. Don't wait another day. Pregnancy is challenging enough without having to manage this added debilitating pain.

Once it's clear what you're dealing with, your doctor or midwife should be able to recommend a
specific course of treatment or to refer you to a chiropractor (or other healthcare professional) for assessment and treatment. 

Q: My kids are picky eaters. With food allergies it's hard to create a huge variety, so this has led to them wanting to eat the same stuff over and over and it's not all healthy. it takes FOREVER for us to get through a meal and I don't want to fight with them over food or force them to eat, yet I also dont' want them up in the middle of night because they are hungry. They are 2 and 4, both capable of picking up a utensil and putting it in their mouth, yet we struggle with pretty much every meal trying to get them to eat. I'm at the pulling my hair out stage - we know yelling didn't work, time outs aren't working, putting less on the plate still nothing.... what do you do with kids that won't eat??

A: I really like Ellyn Satter's no-stress philosophies about dealing with kids who are picky eaters: it's the parent's job to provide healthy food and it's the child's job to decide whether or not to eat the food. Most healthy children won't starve themselves, so if you provide a variety of healthy foods (and perhaps serve them buffet-style, with serving dishes in the middle of the table, so that your kids can help themselves to tiny servings of the various foods on option), you can eliminate the battles over food. You get to decide which foods appear on the table each night because you are the parent and you have more knowledge about nutrition than they do. They get some input, as all family members do, but they don't get to dictate what the family eats night after night because they are still learning about food and eating. There will be some complaints at first, but, if you are consistent, they'll learn about the new food rules at your house (they can choose from the foods at the buffet), and they'll also learn that no one is going to force them to eat anything. That may help to short-circuit the power struggles at the dinner table.

Q: My baby is 7 months old (today!) and she is at the stage where she wants nobody but Mommy day and night. Daddy wants to help but it's like she gives him a hard time on purpose. What can we do to help her "open up" to Daddy and not give him such a hard time when he tries to help? Thank you!!!

A: This can be so frustrating for both of you. The good news is that "the mommy stage" doesn't last forever. Pretty soon, daddy will have co-star billing. You'll find that your daughter will want daddy to do certain things and mommy to do certain things. "Daddy do!" will become your new favourite phrase. Until this magic day arrives, remind yourself that your daughter is bonding to you like crazy as a means of establishing a feeling of safety in the world. She's new to the planet and you're her first guide to this overwhelming world of ours. As she feels more and more secure, she'll widen her world, and daddy will be first in line. Tell daddy not to take this personally (even though it's hard). His patience will be rewarded with the love and adoration of his daughter very soon.

For more information on Ann and her books, visit www.having-a-baby.com