Guide to pregnancy – Part 2
When you’re thinking about a pregnancy there are a lot of things to consider. This article takes you through ten of them.
Get Pregnant
In order to conceive successfully the best time to have intercourse is about 2 to 3 days before ovulation this is the time when the conditions are perfect for the sperm.
Pregnancy Signs
The big sign of a possible pregnancy is a missed period, others include:
Sense of taste changes
Sense of smell is heightened
Tender breasts
Darkening of the areolas
Nausea
Frequent urination
Tiredness
Pregnancy Test
If you are experiencing any of the above pregnancy signs and you have had unprotected sex then the next step is the pregnancy test. Pregnancy Tests measure the amount of a hormone (only present in pregnancy)called human chorionic gonadotropin that is in your urine.
Pregnant
Once you have a positive pregnancy test it is important to have a healthy balanced diet as you are now officially eating for two. It is also important that you keep up some regular exercise, talk to your doctor about what is right for you. Do not forget to rest up, while you’re resting you can read up on all of that pregnancy information.
Pregnancy Information
Pregnancy Information can be found in abundance in both pregnancy magazines and pregnancy websites. A book which covers most things is called “What to Expect when you’re Expecting.” There are also some great magazines for you to look at and some fantastic websites. Websites such as www.pregnancyandbaby.com and www.justmommies.com are invaluable.
Pregnancy Calendars
The above websites also provide pregnancy calendars. These show you a week to week guide to what is happening inside your body. I used a calendar in a pregnancy magazine and would inform my husbands of things such as, “the baby’s now the size of a strawberry.”
Pregnancy Magazines
There are a lot of different magazines available for pregnant women. Mother & Child, Pregnancy & Birth and Practical Parenting to name just three. If you have a local library nearby I would recommend having a look through back issues of several different ones and see which one appeals the most.
Diabetic Pregnancy
A diabetic pregnancy raises the risk of miscarrying or having a baby with a congenital abnormality. What this means is that you, as a diabetic, need to talk to your doctor before trying to conceive. Three steps that will help are:
1. Try to achieve normal glycosolated haemoglobin levels before conception.
2. Manage your diet and check your blood sugar levels frequently.
3. Take 5mg of folic acid daily before conception and throughout the first trimester.
Twins
There are two different types of twin, the identical and the fraternal. Identical twins are formed when a fertilized egg divides into two. Fraternal twins occur when two separate eggs are fertilized.
Some women are more likely to give birth to twins then others. These are women in there 30s or 40s and women who have twins in their families.
Names
The fun part of the pregnancy for some people is choosing names, for others it is the worst part. This is where compromise between expectant parents comes into play! For this part of the journey as with the other parts there are a multitude of books and websites which can offer up suggestions.
Signs Of Pregnancy – The Cry From Below
Of course, there are many different signs of pregnancy and different symptoms that you may or may not experience. These signs, are literally that. Signs from our body that we need to be made aware of something, guess what we’re having a baby is the cry from below.
At the first signs of pregnancy, most women make a beeline to the pharmacy and purchase a home pregnancy test kit. This is most often the best way to establish whether you are pregnant or not. Many women are nervous or shy about buying a pregnancy test kit, it really should not be anything to worry about. However, it is understandable in some cases where you do not want other people to find out you may be pregnant.
If you live in a small town or one prone to gossip, try purchasing a pregnancy test kit online. Or if you are in a rush, you could visit your local mother’s group or doctor for a confidential test. Most importantly, do not put off taking the pregnancy test kit, especially if you are showing different signs of pregnancy.
Using a pregnancy test kit is reasonably straight forward. Upon the first signs of pregnancy, they are used to determine pregnancy by testing for a hormone called “Human Chorionic Gonadotropin” which is found in women’s urine. The hormone is also well known as the “pregnancy hormone”, this is because when it is found, it means that a women is pregnant. Most tests work on a simple basis, one signal for pregnant and another signal for not pregnant. If you’re unsure you should read the instructions provided.
If one of the signs of pregnancy you are experiencing is a missed period, the optimum time to use a home pregnancy test kit is as soon as you’re aware that the period has been missed. You may experience other signs of pregnancy such as morning sickness, swollen breasts or tiredness, however in our opinion taking the test following a missed period is good timing.
If your test is positive, it is then important to get this confirmed by a medical professional. They will take a blood test and talk to you about what to expect during your pregnancy. If it is your first baby, they will discuss the different signs of pregnancy, hereditary illnesses and whether you are on any medication that may harm the baby. It is important to use this time to ask about anything you are not sure of.
After the first signs of pregnancy and the confirmation, you maybe feeling a little strange emotionally. In the grand scheme of things, being told that you are expecting a baby is a massive life changing moment. So whether the pregnancy was planned or a wonderful accident, it is often best to spend a day or two getting used to the idea of being pregnant, before telling anyone else.
Remember, the signs of pregnancy are just that. Signs from our body that it is time for change, start to look after yourself better, eat more healthily and drink lots of water.
Dealing With Morning Sickness
Being pregnant truly is a once in a lifetime and an absolutely wonderful experience. With that said, there is an aspect of pregnancy which can be difficult for many women. What commonly is referred to as morning sickness plagues many women who are pregnant. Through this article you are provided with some insights into how you can best deal with what most people still call morning sickness.
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At the outset, it is important to understand that the nausea associated with being pregnant can occur throughout the day and night and is not confined to the morning. Many women historically have experienced pregnancy related nausea in the morning. But, calling it morning sickness really is something of a misnomer.
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In addition, you need to understand that nausea associated with pregnancy is normal, particularly during the first trimester. However, with that said and understood, if you find that you are suffering from severe nausea or if you find that you are spending a good deal of time nauseated, you definitely will want to speak with your doctor. There are some rather rare instances in which nausea during pregnancy can be the consequence of something more serious. Therefore, you really do want to make sure that you visit with your doctor if the nausea you are experiencing associated with your pregnancy is more severe and unrelenting.
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There is no definitive conclusion as to why some experience severe nausea during the course of a pregnancy while others don’t. Most experts tend to agree that the various physical changes that accompany a pregnancy are the prime factors that lead to pregnancy related nausea. Specifically, many of these experts agree that hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin is the prime contributor to the nausea that is suffered by many women who are pregnant. Some research also suggests that the hormone estrogen also plays a contributing role in the nausea that is suffered during pregnancy by some women.
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You are likely to find that certain foods aggravate a condition of pregnancy related nausea. The reality is that this differs from woman to woman. Therefore, you will have to go through a period of trial and error until you eliminate those foods that aggravate your nausea and those that do not.  On a related note, some women experience some relief from pregnancy related nausea by eating certain food items or drinking certain beverages. Once again, this does differ from person to person and you will need to experiment a bit in this regard. As an side, simply because a food or beverage may have helped control nausea when you were not pregnant does not mean that it will have the same effect when you are pregnant.
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As mentioned previously, if the symptoms of pregnancy related nausea become more severe or seem to persist without any relief, you must see your doctor. There needs to be a determination made that nothing more serious is going on. Moreover, your physician can recommend medications that may help to relieve your pregnancy relate nausea symptoms.
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Miscarriage-diseases
What do doctors call this condition?
Spontaneous abortion
What is this condition?
A miscarriage refers to the spontaneous expulsion of the fetus from the uterus before the fetus can survive on its own. Up to 15% of all pregnancies and approximately 30% of first pregnancies end in miscarriage. At least 75% of miscarriages occur during the first trimester.
What causes it?
Miscarriage may result from fetal, placental, or maternal factors. Petal factors, which usually cause miscarriage at 9 to 12 weeks’ gestation, include defective development of the embryo due to abnormal chromosome division (most common cause of fetal death), faulty implantation of the fertilized ovum (egg), and failure of the endometrium to accept the fertilized ovum.
Placental factors usually cause miscarriage around the 14th week, when the placenta takes over the hormone production necessary to maintain the pregnancy. These factors include premature separation of the normally implanted placenta and abnormal placental implantation.
Maternal factors, which usually cause miscarriage between the 11th and 19th weeks, include a long list:
• maternal infection, severe malnutrition, drug ingestion, abnormalities of the reproductive organs (especially an incompetent cervix, in which the cervix dilates painlessly and bloodlessly in the second trimester)
• endocrine problems, such as a thyroid disorder
• trauma, including surgery involving the pelvic organs
• certain immune disorders or blood group incompatibility.
What are its symptoms?
Signs of an impending miscarriage may include a pink discharge for several days or a scant brown discharge for several weeks before the onset of cramps and increased vaginal bleeding. For a few hours, the cramps intensifY and occur more frequently; then the cervix dilates to expel uterine contents. If expulsion is complete, cramps and bleeding subside. However, if any contents remain, cramps and bleeding continue.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis of miscarriage is based on clinical evidence of expulsion of uterine contents, a pelvic exam, and lab studies. Decreased levels of human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone that is present in the blood or urine during pregnancy, suggest miscarriage. A pelvic exam determines the size of the uterus and whether this size is consistent with the length of the pregnancy. Microscopic exam reveals evidence of products of conception. Lab tests reflect decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin levels due to blood loss.
How is it treated?
Uterine contents must be carefully examined before a treatment plan can be formulated. A miscarriage can’t be prevented, except when the cause is an incompetent cervix. If bleeding is severe, the woman must be hospitalized and receive a blood transfusion. Initially, intravenous Pitocin stimulates uterine contractions. If any remnants remain in the uterus, dilatation and curettage or dilatation and evacuation should be performed.
A woman who’s had several miscarriages because of an incompetent cervix may have it surgically reinforced 14 to 16 weeks after the last menstrual period. A few weeks before the estimated delivery date, the sutures are removed and the woman awaits the onset of labor, An alternative procedure, especially for a woman who wants to have more children, is to leave the sutures in place and to deliver the infant by cesarean section.
Pregnant! What’s This About Morning Sickness?
Congratulations! You’re pregnant!
One minute you’re overjoyed with your news, the
next you’re brought back down to earth with
a thud.
And with it,the rude awakening that soon after
conception, your body begins undergoing a series
of major changes to help prepare it for your
baby’s growth and development.
Mother Nature loves irony. How else to explain
taking the happiest time in a woman’s life and
causing her to become physically ill and miserable?
And, what’s with using the term, “morning
sickness”? Actually, the correct term is
“nausea and vomiting of pregnancy”. Which is
closer to the truth since the condition can
and will occur anytime of the day.
Facts about the condition:
1. 50-95% of pregnant women suffer from it
2. dehydration can happen in extreme cases
3. occurs in first month of pregnancy
4. continues until 14th-16th week
5. 50% of women will suffer for another month
Although nobody will say for sure what the
definite causes are, the theories are:
1. estrogen level increase
2. low blood sugar
3. increased sensitivity to smells where many odors
instantly trigger the gag-reflex
4. rise in progesterone level . This hormone helps
relax the uterus in order to prevent early labor
but it also relaxes the stomach and intestines
which cause excess acids in the stomach and slower
waste removal.
5. eating unhealthy foods. Seems the body has a
sure-fire way to make sure you don’t ingest
anything not good for you or baby.
6. and this doozy. an increase in human chorionic
gonadotropin! Now you know why they prefer to
call it (hCG) This is a peptide hormone produced
by the embryo soon after conception and later
on by the placenta. It’s role is to maintain
crucial levels of progesterone production vital
in human pregnancies.
7. excess salivation which nauseates some women
It’s difficult to spend time on the causes when all
you want is relief. As with anything to do with the
human body, there’s no one-size-fits-all remedy. There
will be a period of trial and error as you find what
works for you. Of course it goes without saying, you
will be consulting with your doctor/care-provider.
So here are some corrective measures used by many women:
1. eating small, frequent meals. An empty stomach
produces an acid which aggravates the stomach
lining.
2. foods should be high in proteins and complex
carbohydrates. Yogurt, cheese and eggs for example.
Whole-grain breads and cereals. Don’t make the
mistake of thinking of whole-wheat as being whole-
grain. You want the product label to say ” 100%
whole-grain”. Big difference and healthy for
mother and baby.
3. drink fluids. Dehydration makes everything worse.
Extreme cases need to be hospitalized. If you can’t
stomach fluids, try eating fruit which has high
water content and low acid like grapes and watermellon
4. ginger (zingiber officinale) The age-old remedy for
upset stomachs. Either capsules, tea or ginger-
snaps, candy. Try to get ginger ale made with real
ginger. Usually not supermarket brands. You may
have to try the health-food section in your grocery
or an actual health-food store.
5. brushing teeth after vomiting will decrease excess
saliva and lessen stomach turmoil. And, prevents
tooth decay and makes you feel better.
6. get proper rest. Fatigue and stress will cause
morning sickness to worsen. If able to, nap often.
7. stay away from fatty, spicy, rich, acidic and
fried foods
8. eat crackers before getting out of bed. Get up
slowly.
9. take prenatal vitamins later on in the day
10. try vitamin B6
11. microwave cooking produces less odors. Better yet,
have someone else do the cooking while you, lucky
girl,stay away!
12. go smell lemons. Believe it or not, relief may
be found by sprinkling essential oil of lemon on
a handkerchief and holding it to your nose.
13. warm places can trigger nausea. Try to stay cool.
If not in air conditioning, install fans around you.
Even a battery-operated hand-held fan can bring relief.
14. if your stomach agrees, eat what you want when you
want it. Your special cravings are trying to tell
you something.
Although it can be downright annoying when well-meaning
friends and family tell you, “This too shall pass”.
Especially when you feel miserable. Usually after the
first trimester, you will again be concentrating on
happy, future events.
Again, Congratulations!
(c) 2006 Karen Cook
Reference Sources: Wikipedia and Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
Guide to pregnancy
- Image via Wikipedia
As a mother, looking back on my pregnancy and all that came with it, a part of me misses it. For ten wonderful months I was physically, mentally, and emotionally attached to another human being. I had a life growing inside me and I could not wait for that fateful day when I would look in my child’s eyes for the first time. There is so much planning, hoping and waiting. With the gift of life comes the gift of love and wonder every new child brings into this world. Here are some tips on what to expect when pregnant:
Pregnancy Signs:
Whether you’re planning your pregnancy, or you have an unplanned miracle, there are certain signs to look for:
o Tender breasts
o A feeling of fatigue
o Spotting may occur
o Morning sickness is very common
o An increased sensitivity to certain odors
o Frequent urination
o A missed period
Pregnancy Magazines:
“Pregnancy” offers advice from conception to labor and is great for first time moms.
“Fit Pregnancy” offers advice for women who want to keep fit throughout their pregnancy and handles some postpartum fitness issues.
“American Baby” offers advice on everything from health issues for expecting mothers to infant and childcare.
Get Pregnant:
Much can be done to assist in getting pregnant. Prenatal vitamins can be taken before the onset of pregnancy, to ensure your body has the vital minerals necessary to feed a growing baby. Ovulation tests can tell you when, during the month, the egg is most likely to be fertilized.
Diabetic Pregnancy:
Gestational diabetes occurs in 2 to 7 percent of pregnant women. It usually passes after labor, although women who had it are more likely to develop it in future pregnancies. To see if you are at risk for gestational diabetes, ask your doctor for a glucose screening during your pregnancy.
Pregnancy Information:
Your doctor is the best place to get information on pregnancy, its symptoms, nutrition and diet, tests, labor and delivery. The internet has a lot of information, but check with your doctor before changing your routine. Planned Parenthood has many services available, including clinics and support during and after pregnancy.
Pregnancy Calendars:
Pregnancy calendars offer a ‘week by week’ (and some a ‘day by day’) account of what you and your baby will experience. They offer advice on time specific issues, such as tips for morning sickness during the first trimester, to details on what is needed for a safe and healthy delivery.
Twins:
In the case of twins, the medical care for you and your developing babies can be very different than with a care for a woman carrying one child. According to various risk factors, the term of the pregnancy may be shortened, and many who have twins have a Cesarean section.
Names:
While some parents decide to go with traditional names, more and more parents are deciding on less common names, some with varied spelling. Many baby name books give the origins of the name, with commentary on its commonality, while others present a list of names, according to some common factor.
Pregnancy Test:
Many technological advances have made home pregnancy tests more accurate. They can be purchased at your local drugstore, or you may just go to your doctor to be absolutely positive. The tests look for a hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is found in the urine of a pregnant female.
Pregnant:
Many changes occur when a woman is pregnant. Her body is supporting another life and at times she may feel drained. Eating healthy foods, staying away from tobacco, alcohol and drugs, and getting the appropriate medical care can have lifelong effects on the health and general well-being of your child.
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Pregnancy : 1st Trimester – Tests and Procedures
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services your spouse may need other lab tests, like blood or urine tests, cultures for infections, or ultrasound exams in the first trimester, for special genetic or medical reasons. The doctor will discuss them with you and your spouse during your visits. The most common tests recommended in the first trimester include:
Nuchal translucency screening (NTS)
This new type of screening can be done between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. It uses an ultrasound and blood test to calculate the risk of some birth defects. Doctors use the ultrasound exam to check the thickness of the back of the fetus’ neck. They also test your spouse’s blood for levels of a protein called pregnancy-associated plasma protein and a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Doctors use this information to tell if the fetus has a normal or greater than normal chance of having some birth defects.
In an important recent study, NTS found 87% of cases of Down syndrome when done at 11 weeks of pregnancy. When NTS was followed by another blood test done in the second trimester (maternal serum screening test), 95% of fetuses with Down syndrome were identified. Like all screening tests, the results are sometimes misleading. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, in 5% of women who have NTS, results show that their babies have a high risk of having a birth defect when they are actually healthy. This is called a false positive.
To find out for sure if the fetus has a birth defect, NTS must be followed by a diagnostic test like chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. NTS is not yet widely used. If you and your spouse are interested in NTS, talk to your doctor. If she is unable to do the test, she can refer you to someone who can. Your spouse should also call her insurance company to find out if they cover the cost of this procedure.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, NTS allows women to find out early if there are potential health problems with the fetus. This may help them decide whether to have follow-up tests.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
CVS is performed between 10 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. In CVS, the doctor inserts a needle through the abdomen or inserts a catheter through the cervix to reach the placenta. The doctor then takes a sample of cells from the placenta. Experts use this sample to look for problems with the baby’s chromosomes. This test cannot find out whether your baby has open neural tube defects.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, about 1 in 200 women have a miscarriage as a result of this test.
Pregnancy can be a challenging phase for your spouse. Maintaining a healthy posture will help her keep many problems away. Sometimes being a dad takes a little wise perspective…… You can exchange advice, tricks, tips, and solutions to common dad problems here.
Choices On Infertility Drugs
Infertility drugs are normally employed in conjunction with other infertility techniques when a couple or a person is diagnosed of infertility.
Since infertility by nature is a complex condition, many methods are required before any possible diagnosis is created. Without the extensive and comprehensive procedures that delve into even the smallest details of the condition, diagnosis may be impossible. Thus the impossibility of creating a treatment program for the patients.
If in case a woman is said to have problems associated with ovulation, it is likely that she would be prescribed of ovulation infertility drugs. The main underlying principle of which is for ovulation stimulation.
The initial step may be marked with the use of clomiphene. If this doesn’t work, the patient may move to more advanced form of treatment like the use of HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin that is normally employed in combination with other infertility drugs.
Clomiphene or Clomid while being more popular with female infertility treatment is also used as an effective prescription with male-associated infertility. Clomid is the pioneer in the industry. While its use may be traced for as far as some thirty years ago, no major complications are yet discovered that are closely connected with the use of the drug. In fact, cases of birth defects, complications in pregnancy and difficulty of labor are not evident when this infertility drug is used.
Clomiphene is a prescription-only drug, which appears in tablet forms. HCG, on the other hand, is used only as injection under the strict guidance of a physician.
Administration of Clomid will increase the presence of hormones responsible in ovulation. It affects the workings of the four major reproductive hormones namely follicle stimulating hormone or FSH, luteinizing hormone or LH, estradiol and gonadotropins.
HCG is sold under brand names like Profasi, Gonic and Pregnyl. This works on both male and women infertility. For males, HCG increases the production of androgen while it helps release more estrogen in women.
HCG is linked with weight loss though. However, there are still no evidences that will prove these assertions. Thus, the use of HCG in such programs is questionable.
Other synthetically prepared hormones like Urofollotropins are used in inducing ovulation.
Reminders:
When under an infertility drug treatment, be sure to disclose all necessary details to your physician. These include information like medical history, other drugs presently used, details on known origin of infertility like childhood diseases and ailments and others.
Miscarriage Prevention – A New Protocol
- Image via Wikipedia
Miscarriage Prevention
New Protocol Developed by Dr. Mike Berkley to Help Prevent Miscarriage
For the past ten years I never needled the abdomen of a pregnant woman for fear of causing miscarriage. This method of behavior stems in part from fear of over-stimulating blood flow to the embryo or placenta. This thinking, as I have recently discovered, is incorrect. It has taken me ten years of study and research to enable me to fully understand what is happening in the uterus after a successful pregnancy and why abdominal acupuncture for the first three months of pregnancy is not only safe but serves significantly to prevent miscarriage.
At the luteal phase or secretory phase of the menstrual cycle the predominant hormone is progesterone. Progesterone is created from the follicle that has ovulated the mature egg. This follicle is now known as the ‘yellow body’ or corpus lutuem. The corpus luteum, under the influence of luteinizing hormone which emanates from the anterior pituitary in the brain secretes progesterone. This action is done to enable the uterine lining to be amenable to a successful embryo implantation and pregnancy. If pregnancy is not successful, the corpus luteum becomes atretic (dies) and progesterone levels diminish and menstruation starts.
When a woman does successfully become pregnant, the LH which is required to maintain high levels of progesterone (P) no longer comes from the anterior pituitary gland in the brain. It comes in fact, from the developing blastocyst itself. The blastocyst (developing baby), secretes HCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin which has a very similar molecular structure to LH. The HCG causes the corpus luteum to continue to secrete P (this is called corpus luteum- rescue), until the placenta is fully formed at which point the placenta itself secretes appropriate amounts of P to help maintain pregnancy.
So, if the developing blastocyst is responsible for secreting HCG to keep itself alive it made sense to me to use very few and well placed needles in the abdomen to gently stimulate blood flow to the blastocyst so that P would continue to be secreted from the corpus luteum.
This, in my opinion is one of the major ways that miscarriage prevention can be achieved with acupuncture. I am the first one to arrive at this idea and have been using it with great success.
After 6 or 7 weeks the placenta is formed and it secretes P. The corpus luteum is no longer necessary. But, one of the major causes of miscarriage is inappropriate blood flow to the placenta. One of the causes of this is due to thrombophilic disorders (The tendency to form blood clots). But clinically what does this mean? Blood carries oxygen, hormones and nutrients to the placenta and excretes dead cells from it.
These dead cells are called ‘debris’. By continuing to use abdominal acupuncture, we continue to gently stimulate blood flow to the placenta (reducing the effects of poor hemodynamics which can occur due to thrombophilic disorder or just poor circulation), maintaining its ability to secrete P, estrogen, human placental-lactogen, relaxin and other hormones necessary for the maintenance of a healthy pregnancy.
I am constantly studying Western reproductive medicine and translating my findings into a Chinese medical model which serves to increase a useful knowledge-base to help couples achieve pregnancy. However, achieving pregnancy is only half the battle. The other half is maintaining a healthy pregnancy. The focus of many acupuncturists is to help their patients become pregnant. This too is my first goal, but only my first. My second goal is to maintain a viable pregnancy and this is where my research and studies are now taking me.
I am pleased to say that at this point our successful pregnancy cases are remaining in the 30 to 40 of miscarriages occur within the first trimester.
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Healthy Pregnancy Information – a Guide to Early Pregnancy
- Image by mahalie via Flickr
Pregnancy is the term used to describe when a woman has a growing fetus inside of her. In most cases, the fetus grows in the uterus. When a women becomes pregnant her body starts to produce a hormone called hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) This hormone give the positive result on both urine and blood based tests. Human pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, or just more than 9 months, from the start of the last menstrual period to childbirth.The feeling of carrying another living being in your womb is the most special time of a woman’s life. It is a time of physical, mental and emotional transformation for the woman. Anxiety and uncertainty marks the great deal of excitement accompanying these changes. However, worries and having sleepless nights are uncalled for. The nine months of journey would be pleasant if one has a better knowledge and appreciation of these transformations.
During the first trimester, marked from conception to 12 or 14 weeks from the last normal menstrual cycle, a woman often experiences morning sickness (vomiting and nausea), tiredness, tender breast and frequent urination. Taking small frequent meals can be very helpful in preventing nausea. The mother-to-be may have alternate activity and rest periods. During this stage, walking is the most suitable physical activity.
Often considered as the “Golden Period” of pregnancy is the second trimester. During this stage, the physically demanding signs and symptoms of pregnancy have subsided. There are better sleep patterns, a paramount sign of advancement in the healthy pregnancy process. It is also during this time that the most joyful moment is experienced by the mother-to-be. The first heartbeat of the baby can be heard; moreover, an ultrasound usually done in around 19 weeks may make one feel the diverse movements of your bundle of joy. The ugly stretch marks, which is a cause for worries for women may become visible. Do not scratch the abdominal area to lessen the chances of pregnancy stretch marks.
The last of the pregnancy trimesters is the time when the fetus becomes too large to move in the uterus. The to-be moms may feel tired and experience shortness of breath due to the increased growth of the fetus. At the end of the third trimester, the fetus usually settles into a head-down position in the uterus. During this time, future parents should be well prepared for the birth of the baby.
Pregnancy also involves many changes in a woman’s lifestyle. Avoid detrimental substances such as nicotine and alcohol. Cigarette smoke can lead to low birth weight in babies as well as miscarriages and tubal pregnancies. Alcohol and other toxic chemicals and substances such as paint fumes are damaging to the mother and to the baby.
During pregnancy, prenatal nutrition is very important. That is why dieting during this time is a big no-no. Hydration is also very important, about 6 to 8 glasses a day should be consumed. Essential nutrients and vitamins in the diet are vital to the development of both mother and child. Vitamins supplements are necessary as well as plenty of sleep and performing as much exercise as safely possible. During your pregnancy, regular activity such as walking, yoga, and swimming will help alleviate swelling, fatigue, and backache.
Giving birth will no doubt be one of the most magical moments of a woman’s life and to ensure that your child is strong and happy, it is important you do all you can to have a healthy pregnancy.
Frequency of Urination
Running to the bathroom all the time? Early in pregnancy, the growing uterus presses on your bladder. This causes frequent urination.
See your doctor right away if you notice pain, burning, pus or blood in your urine. You might have a urinary tract infection that needs treatment.
Weight Gain
During the first trimester, it is normal to gain only a small amount of weight, about one pound per month.
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