Are you pregnant? Is this your first child? Even if it’s not, no pregnancy is exactly the same and you may have questions. For Pregnancy Awareness Month, Kids In The House has gathered some of our best pregnancy experts to help answer your questions. Whether you are looking for advice on fertility or putting together a birth plan, our experts have the answers for you. Here are answers to some of our most frequently asked questions on pregnancy:

We are having fertility issues, is it safe to try IVF?

It can be a difficult time for any couple who is having trouble getting pregnant and knowing what to do is an important decision. If you are interested in trying In Vitro Fertilization, you should definitely talk to your doctor about it who can refer you to a fertility specialist as IVF doesn’t work to solve every issue. Fertility specialist, Dr. Richard Marrs, explains that IVF was developed to help women who are infertile due to tubal damage. “We take the eggs directly out of the ovary into the In Vitro Fertalization laboratory that has been given a sperm sample, and we place the sperm and egg together in the In Vitro dish,” explains Dr. Marrs. “We let fertilization occur and then the embryo's grow for 3 to 5 days before we select the embryo's to transfer directly back into the uterus.” Simply, it is a way to bypass the Fallopian tubes in the human reproduction process.

What is your advice for dealing with morning sickness?

While some women don’t feel morning sickness at all, other pregnant moms are extremely affected by it. Obstetrician, Dr. Shamsah Amersi, explains that morning sickness is caused by the rapid rise in hormones during the first semester. Dr. Amersi advises women struggling with morning sickness to have small, frequent meals. She explains that bland diets, including bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast, will help your stomach feel more at ease. Dr. Amersi also says that medication may be necessary. Vitamin B-6 and Unisom are safe to take while you are pregnant, and discuss the doses with your physician. Sofran or other anti-nausea medications are also available and these are safe to take.

What types of foods should I avoid while I’m pregnant?

Nutritionist Del Millers, explains that there are toxins in every day food that each woman should avoid while pregnant. First, deli meats, processed foods and hot dogs are filled with nitrates and methylate’s that could have neurological effects in the body of your unborn baby. Dr. Millers also explains how important it is to avoid high-fructose corn syrup as it can cause metabolic disorders for the fetus. He says most soft cheeses are safe, but make sure they are from pasteurized milk that is sold in the United States.

How can I tell the difference between Braxton Hicks and real contractions?

Braxton Hicks contractions are contractions that don’t lead to labor. Dr. Paul Crane explains that these types of contractions are not very frequent and not very painful.  If you get up and start walking around and they get further apart, then they are most likely Braxton Hicks contractions. However, if they proceed to get stronger and more frequent, then it might be the beginning of early labor. In any case, if you think it might be labor, call your doctor or go to the hospital.

Do you still have questions about your pregnancy? Join our live #KITHangout this Thursday, May 7th “PREGNANCY PANEL: Everything You Need To Know About Pregnancy” for a live Q&A discussion! We will be joined by Dr. Richard Marrs, Dr. Shamsah Amersi, and author Suzanne Barston! Click here to RSVP and start asking your questions!