Stages of Pregnancy: Prenatal Advice for a First Time Mom
September 13th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
The nine months of pregnancy is a crucial period for both the mother and the fetus. It is over this period of time that a fertilized egg develops into a fully formed newborn. The pregnancy period can be broken up typically into three stages called trimesters. Each of these trimesters spans over a period of roughly three months or thirteen weeks. Though there are no hard and fast rules regarding the demarcation of the periods yet the changes that take place over the months are better described with distinctions being made between the trimesters. The mom-to-be ought to learn up certain things about the stages of pregnancy and the adequate care thereof.
Care during first trimester
The first trimester is the period when the developing embryo becomes implanted into the endometrial lining of a woman’s uterus. The period is characterized by morning sickness as is observable with most women in their first trimester. Besides, changes in the size of the breasts and body mass, vomiting and nausea may also be observed. There may even be experienced excessive urination. This is the period which concludes with the fetus growing to a hazelnut’s size and starts showing signs of life. Since most miscarriages occur during this period considerable caution needs to be observed. Intensive and regular medical checkups are a must during this period to take care of the health of both the fetus and the mother. It is important to keep monitoring the health during this time lest any more than usual pregnancy related symptoms can be seen. A nutritious diet and light physical exercise routine need to be followed at such time.
The second trimester concerns
During the second trimester most women start feeling more energized and start putting on weight. The morning sickness subsides and soon is no more experienced. The developments and first movements of the fetus start getting felt within. The protrusion of the belly also starts getting more prominent at this time. Though weight gain is common during this period rapid and considerable weight gain will be an indication of multiple births. However, excess weight gain could also mean problems and it is advisable to consult a physician during this period.
Care to be taken while the third trimester commences
With the onset of the third trimester the final weight gain takes place and the fetus shows signs of regular movement. This may be an uncomfortable period for the mother and symptoms of weak bladder control and back ache can be seen. Leg cramps can also be felt. These may result in sleep disturbances and can aggravate the cranky feeling characteristic of the stage.
This period may also be looked upon as the ‘preparation time’ for childbirth. So, would-be moms ought to start taking breastfeeding and childbirth exercises to make them better prepared for managing delivery and post natal concerns.
The would-be mother usually gets screened for group B streptococcus (GBS) during the third trimester. Though the GBS bacterium is harmless in case of adults the babies becoming infected with it can become critically ill. So, this checking should importantly de done. Besides, vaginal examinations need to be taken up to check out the baby’s position and detect cervical changes.
Read more on pregnancy stages at Savvy Cafe.
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Try a Natural Infertility Treatment First
September 13th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
If you are someone that is dealing with the issue of infertility and difficulty conceiving, take heart. You are not alone. As a matter of fact, it’s estimate that one in every ten couples struggles with this same problem – that’s over 5 million couples in the U.S. alone!
But if you’re ready to speak to your doctor about a possible infertility treatment, you may want to consider if there are some natural ways that you can attempt to fix this problem on your own before getting medical intervention.
A Lifestyle Change is the Easiest Infertility Treatment
First of all, it may seem unrelated, but when you stop smoking you are really giving yourself the best infertility treatment there is imaginable. Smoking damages your body in so many ways, and not just in the area of your lungs. The poisons and toxins from cigarette smoke get absorbed in your bloodstream, and from there travel to every cell of your body, including your reproductive system. These poisons can choke out the vital processes necessary not only for a woman to ovulate, but for a man to produce healthy sperm as well.
Additionally, your diet and your level of physical activity can also play a great role in your abilities to conceive. It may not seem like much of an infertility treatment, but exercise gets your blood moving properly, and this blood brings antioxidants and necessary nutrients to all areas of your body, including your reproductive systems. Also, loading up your body with heavy, high-fat foods is going to do damage to this system as well. You’re probably familiar with what saturated fat does to your arteries; however, did you know that it can do the same type of eroding damage to parts of your reproductive system as well? So cutting out those high-fat, deep-fried foods and replacing them with fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is always recommended.
Reducing Stress
Infertility is not simply “all in your head.” There are medical reasons why a couple may have problems conceiving. However, reducing stress is another great lifestyle change that is also an effective infertility treatment. This is because stress chokes out necessary oxygen from your body’s cells, and reduces blood flow to some areas well. Your reproductive systems need this good blood and oxygen to function properly. Additionally, stress can interfere with a woman’s healthy ovulation, and cause a man’s sperm to be malformed, both of which are of course barriers to conception.
And Also Try …
Another natural infertility treatment you can try is a home ovulation predictor. Although it is physically possible for a woman to get pregnant even when she is not ovulating, it’s much easier for her to do so when she is. A home ovulation predictor can tell when this is the case, and of course sexual activity should occur at this time.
It would be shortsighted to dismiss any of these natural infertility treatments, as even your own doctor will probably recommend that you try these avenues first before undergoing any type of invasive surgeries.
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Is that a Pregnancy Symptom You are Experiencing?
September 11th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
The best way for a woman to determine if she really is expecting is to see a positive result on a pregnancy test. However, many women who are actively trying to get pregnant have a hard time waiting until that test can be taken. For some, a pregnancy symptom here and there may appear long before the next menstrual period is late. While these signs are not a sure fire way to predict a positive pregnancy test, they may provide some insight into what is going on with the conception process.
Changes to the Breasts
Many women will begin to experience swollen breasts that are tender as the earliest pregnancy symptom. These first signs of pregnancy can occur as early as a couple of weeks after conception has taken place, and is the result of hormone fluctuations that occur in the early stages of pregnancy. This early pregnancy symptom will often continue well into the first trimester and then ease up a bit until the end of the term.
Spotting
As the fertilized egg implants into the wall of the uterus, some women have implantation spotting about ten days to two weeks after conception. This pregnancy symptom is much different from a regular period, because it occurs earlier and the blood tends to be lighter in color. Generally not as heavy as a normal period and it also doesn’t last as long. Some women also experience some mild cramping with this pregnancy symptom, similar to period cramping.
Fatigue
Most women get tired once in a while, but if you are dead tired more often than not, it may be a pregnancy symptom. During the early stages of pregnancy fatigue is often the result of the rising levels of progesterone that take place. Most women find that fatigue tends to improve during the second trimester and then pick back up again in the later months as the extra weight takes its toll on the body and it is harder to sleep soundly with a protruding belly in the way.
Morning Sickness
The term “morning sickness” is a bit of a misnomer, since the nausea of this early pregnancy symptom can take place at any time of the day. Rising estrogen levels that keep the digestive tract from working as efficiently can cause sickness like this. It may also be due to an increased sensitization to smells during this time that can make some women feel nauseous.
These first signs of pregnancy may be the earliest pregnancy symptoms that a woman experiences, but they are not a definite diagnosis of pregnancy until the tip of that stick definitely turns pink. Talk to a doctor if you suspect that you are pregnant.
If you supect you may be pregnant, then read this excellent no cost article, Is that a Pregnancy Symptom You are Experiencing? To view more articles on pregnancy visit, http://www.pregnancy.jsgenterprises.com.
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