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Ectopic Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

April 2nd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Most of the time, upon conception the fertilized egg travels to the uterus and implants itself into the wall which is where the fetus will grow. Occassionally the egg implants itself in the fallopian tube or the ovary instead which is called an ectopic pregnancy. This type of pregnancy can be fatal to the mother and needs to be detected as early as possible.

Because of the dangers associated with this type of pregnancy complication, it is important that you’re familiar with ectopic pregnancy symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy,  contact your doctor immediately.

Common Ectopic Pregnancy Symptom

Implantation occurs within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, which is when ectopic pregnancy will occur. Women who have had pelvic infections, pelvic surgerys, or have been using fertility treatments have a higher risk of developing this complication. These women need to be fully aware of the health risks involved as well as the most common ectopic pregnancy symptoms.

The most common ectopic pregnancy symptom is severe vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. Often times, this ectopic pregnancy symptom is mistaken for a miscarriage or a symptom of pelvic inflammatory disease. This symptom may also be accompanied by dizziness, pale or clammy skin and a racing heart beat. If you are experiencing the most severe ectopic pregnancy symptom of vaginal bleeding, contact your doctor immediately. An ectopic pregnancy can cause the fallopian tube to rupture, causing severe bleeding which can be fatal.

When an ectopic pregnancy occurs, it usually means the baby is not developing properly. There is no medical procedure that can correct ectopic pregnancy. Since the baby is not developing properly, the body normally aborts the fetus naturally resulting in a miscarriage. 

Summary

If you experience any ectopic pregnancy symptom, do not ignore it. You need to contact your doctor immediately to confirm that you are, in fact experiencing an ectopic pregnancy symptom or whether other problems exist. Ectopic pregnancy is severe and can be fatal. Unfortunately, there is no medical procedure that can correct the problem. After an ectopic pregnancy, you should consult your doctor to see if you can conceive normally or whether you need to consult a fertility specialist.

Pregnancy Fitness Guide

March 30th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Pregnancy and giving birth are two of the most wonderful experiences that you will have as a woman.  You’re excited but you’re also a little nervous or worried.Worried about what to eat, how much weight you should gain, what exercises you should be doing, etc.  You want to ensure a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby.  (You’re also hoping you can get back into your old swimsuit soon after having your baby).  These feelings are normal.

You need at least one good resource that you can rely on to answer your questions. 

Although there are a lot of pregnancy resources on the market, there is one resource that has really captured my attention.  Why?  Because it is comprehensive and it’s gotten fantastic feedback from others.

You may have heard of the resource, it’s called “The Slim Mom Secrets System”.

This resource covers everything about having a fit and healthy pregnancy.  Including how you can get back to your pre-pregnancy shape (or better) within 30 - 60 days.  The pre and post pregnancy exercise videos are especially helpful.  Here’s a sample of what’s included:

1. what foods, supplements, beauty products, and exercises are safe, or dangerous, during each trimester;
2. simple tricks to prevent some of pregnancy’s most unpleasant side effects like acne, varicose veins, saggy breasts and cellulite;
3. an inexpensive and 100% natural nutrient you can take while you’re pregnant that has been shown in scientific studies to increase a baby’s IQ;
4. three foods you should eat while you’re pregnant (and after) to help prevent postpartum depression;
5. what time of day is best for eating to help your baby grow, and not your waistline; and
6. what you can do to increase your chances of having a shorter and easier labor, etc.

There’s a lot more and the program comes with an 8 week money back guarantee.  You should look at the website and consider taking advantage of their current special promotion.  It’s a very good price.

 

Chinese Pregnancy Calendar - Does it Work?

March 28th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

The Chinese pregnancy calendar is also known as the Chinese conception chart. This calendar is over 1000 years old and was found buried in an ancient tomb. The Chinese pregnancy calendar is used to determine whether you will have a boy or a girl and claims a 97 percent accuracy rate.

However, these claims may not be accurate. Many people who have used it, have found the results to be right for one pregnancy but not their second pregnancy. Since there are only two possible outcomes, the calendar has a 50 percent chance of being correct.

The Chinese pregnancy calendar is very easy to use. The results are based upon two variables: the mother’s age when she conceived and the month of conception. The point where these to variables intersect on the Chinese pregnancy calendar indicates whether you will have a boy or a girl. Like all predictions, the results are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Although the Chinese pregnancy calendar may be fun to use, don’t start planning your baby’s future or decorating the nursery based upon the results. It’s interesting that the Chinese saw a need to develop this pregnancy calendar 1000 years ago and that people today are still using it. The calendar is very popular today.

A Family Planning Tool?

Many people use the Chinese pregnancy calendar as a tool to help them plan conception. If you really want to have a baby boy, you may want to consider using the calendar to determine the best months to conceive.

Although, the calendar may not be accurate 100 percent of the time, there are no other tools that can guide you in this area. If you decide to use the calendar for this purpose, keep in mind that the calendar may not be correct. It is merely a prediction. However, limited guidance may be better than no guidance at all.
 
Another word of caution, there seems to be various versions of the Chinese pregnancy calendar available on the internet. Depending upon the website that you use, your prediction may differ. It would be prudent to try and find a reputable website (or book) to locate an authentic Chinese pregnancy calendar. Presumably, you will obtain more accurate results from using an authentic calendar.

Summary

The Chinese pregnancy calendar has become very popular today. People use it to predict the sex of their baby and others use it to plan conception. Whatever your purpose in using the calendar, remember it is only a prediction and there is a 50% chance that it will provide accurate results. The sperm of the father determines the sex of your child and an ancient pregnancy calendar is not going to change that result.

If you do plan on using it for conception planning, at least make sure you are using an authentic Chinese pregnancy calendar. There are different versions of the calendar found on the internet. I would only recommend using the calendar for entertainment purposes.

Saving on Pregnancy Medical Costs

March 22nd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are pregnant and uninsured, you will no longer qualify for maternity insurance, because you are already pregnant. The best way to avoid having to pay full price on medical costs is to obtain a quality medical discount plan.

AmeriPlan-Health is a comprehensive medical discount plan that covers all on-going medical conditions, including pregnancy. AmeriPlan can help you save an average of 50% on all of your medical pregnancy costs, including delivery. The savings will vary on individual costs (doctor visits, lab work, delivery and hospital) but the overall savings will be 50%.

AmeriPlan-Health has more than 400,000 medical providers and is currently available in all states except the following:

1. Alaska;
2. Hawaii;
3. Montana;
4. Vermont;
5. North and South Dakota; and
6. Wyoming.

AmeriPlan is a 15 year old leader in the health benefits industry. They’re based in Dallas, Texas and are a respected member of the BBB and the US Chamber of Commerce.

Here are some of the highlights of AmeriPlan-Health :

1. no waiting period, use in 48-72 hours;
2. all on-going conditions accepted (including pregnancy);
3. satisfaction guarantee;
4. guaranteed acceptance, you can not be denied coverage; and
5. low cost (individuals $49.95 per month and households $59.95 per month).

Pregnancy medical and delivery costs can easily range from $6,000 - $12,000, depending upon your circumstances. Thus a potential average savings of 50% can be very substantial and is worth checking into.

AmeriPlan-Health is easy to use, comes with a 30 day guarantee and you can easily apply on-line. There is also no long term commitment, so if you pay monthly you can cancel monthly.

We have worked with numerous pregnant women who have used the plan to save on maternity costs. This product comes highly recommended and is definately worth considering.

For more information, testimonials and to apply on-line, please visit the following link:

AmeriPlan-Health

 

To Your Health,

MyPregnancyStages.com

 

 

Early Pregnancy - A Critical Time

March 19th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Seeing the first ultra sounds of your developing baby, hearing its heartbeat the firt time and feeling its first kick, are amazing moments during your pregnancy. But these are not the first or early signs of your pregnancy. Early pregnancy signs are rarely as pleasant and often include morning sickness, bleeding, fatigue and cramping. These early pregnancy signs are more like common unpleasant ailments.

First Trimester Symptoms

Early pregnancy symptoms occur during the first trimester, or first three months. During the first three months, the fetus is developing all of its organs and your body is going through alot of changes. Few pregnancy symptoms are present during this first month.

The second month you should start to experience morning sickness and possibly vomiting. Although it is called morning sickness, it can be felt any time of day or all day depending upon the woman. Light spotting or bleeding may also occur which can be mistaken for a period. The bleeding is called implantation bleeding and occurs when the fetus implants itself into the uterus.

During the third month, early pregnancy symptoms should be more profound and include:

1. headaches;
2. severe mood swings;
3. constipation; and
4. heartburn.

Your baby has grown to about four inches long and has most of his or her body parts. Your baby’s head makes up approximately 50% of its total body at this stage of pregnancy.

Early Pregnancy - Special Care

Most physicians will agree that the first three months are the most critical during any pregnancy. During early pregnancy, your baby is developing all of its vital organs as well as its brain. That’s why you need to see your doctor as soon as you learn that you are pregnant.

You need to begin a pregnancy fitness and nutrition program as early as possible to ensure the health of your developing baby. Your baby has very special needs during this stage which will require you to change your diet, your vitamins and perhaps other habits. Your doctor will work with you with respect to all of these areas and more.

It is also a great time to start planning how you are going to care for your baby after its born. This may include finances, going on maternity leave, quitting your job permanently, hiring a nanny, moving to a bigger house, building a nursery, etc.

Early pregnancy detection is vital to the health of your baby. It is also the time that you can begin planning needed lifestyle changes and preparing for your baby’s future.

There are many decisions that you and your spouse need to make, changes that need to take place before baby’s arrival, and you only have eight to nine months to get many of them accomplished. This is a very exciting time and a very busy time as well.
To Your Health,
MyPregnancyStages.com

Why a Home Pregnancy Test?

March 14th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

A home pregnancy test is fairly accurate, can be purchased at your pharmacy and is very easy to use. The test works by testing your urine for the presence of a pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG. If HCG is present the test will indicate that you are pregnant.

Home pregnancy tests have become very popular because they are less expensive than a doctor visit, provide an answer within a few minutes and can be used in the privacy of your own home. Although there are many brands on the market, the first response pregnancy test and the ept pregnancy test are two of the most popular and trusted brands.

Taking a home pregnancy test too early, may indicate that you are not pregnant even though you have already conceived. This is because HCG is not present in your system until the fertilized egg has implanted itself on the walls of the uterus which occurs 5 to 8 days after conception.

To ensure accuracy, it is best to wait at least two weeks after a missed period to take your first home pregnancy test. Regardless of the result, verify the answer by taking a second pregnancy test a few days later.

Early Pregnancy Test Options

There are only two types of pregnancy tests available today: a urine test and blood test. Both tests are designed to detect the presence of the HCG pregnancy hormone in your system. All home pregnancy tests are urine tests. A blood test can only be performed by your doctor.

Although blood tests tend to be more sensitive than urine based home pregnancy tests, HCG is not present in your system until implantation occurs. Thus the increased sensitivity of a blood test provides minimal benefit, assuming you’re using your home pregnancy test properly.

Most women still prefer the convenience and cost savings obtained with a home pregnancy test. Urine based tests have also improved greatly the last few years increasing both their effectiveness and sensitivity.

To ensure you are using the most advanced urine test possible, use a name brand such as the ept pregnancy test or the first response pregnancy test. Although there are pregnancy tests advertised on the internet for a dollar or less, you can not be sure of the quality.

Home Pregnancy Test Procedure

Home pregnancy tests are easy to use provided you read the instructions. The test procedures are not standardized so different brands function differently. If you want an accurate result please follow the directions exactly.

For example, some home pregnancy tests instruct you to place the testing stick in contact with your urine stream. Other home pregnancy tests require you to immerse the stick into a urine sample that you have collected.

After the testing stick comes in contact with the urine, it usually takes a few minutes before the results can be seen on the indicator. Some home pregnancy tests also include a control mechanism so you know that the testing device is working properly.

Final Comments

In summary, home pregnancy tests are a great way for you to easily and affordably identify whether or not you are pregnant. However to ensure accuracy you should:

1. buy a name brand pregnancy test such as ept or first response;
2. read and follow all directions exactly;
3. wait two weeks after missing a period to perform the first test; and
4. always verify your results with a second test in 2 - 5 days.

As soon as you confirm your pregnancy make an appointment to see your doctor. It’s extremely important to start taking special care of yourself to ensure the health of your developing baby.

Poor fitness and nutrition during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy can cause birth defects, malformations and a miscarriage.
To Your Health

MyPregnancyStages.com
 

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