The First Signs Of Pregnancy: Am I Pregnant?
April 10th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
It’s important for a woman to know the first signs of pregnancy, especially if you are trying to become pregnant. As soon as you become pregnant, it is important to begin a pregnancy nutrition and fitness program, see your doctor, begin taking prenatal vitamins, etc. Here are some of the first signs of pregnancy that you may experience:
Missed Menstrual Cycle
The most obvious first sign of pregnancy for most women is a missed period. If you have a regular cycle and know your schedule this may be the first pregnancy symptom that you notice. However if you have an irregular cycle, a missed period may be difficult to detect. Although a missed period is a sign of pregnancy it can also be caused by stress, changes in diet, sudden changes in weight and similar factors.
Physical Exhaustion
Another first sign of pregnancy is unusual tiredness. Despite getting your normal amount of sleep, you are more tired than usual. Although this is a first sign of pregnancy it may also indicate that you have an infection, have the flu, are under a lot of stress, or are physically overexerted.
Tender Breasts
This first sign of pregnancy can be difficult to detect since it is often associated with your normal menstrual cycle. If you experience tender breasts and your menstrual cycle is more than 2 weeks late, you’re probably pregnant. A home pregnancy test should be taken for verification.
Darkened Areolas
An obvious first sign of pregnancy is a darkening of your areolas (the colored skin surrounding your nipples). This pregnancy symptom occurs very early in pregnancy and may last the entire nine months. Since this symptom is not normally associated with your normal menstrual cycle, it is one of the first signs of pregnancy that most women notice.
Morning Sickness
This is another early sign of pregnancy that is easily recognized. This pregnancy symptom is not normally associated with your normal menstrual cycle, so it is easier to identify that some of the other first signs of pregnancy. Morning sickness and vomiting can also be a sign of illness, food poisoning and similar factors. If your morning sickness persists for more than one day, it is likely a sign that you are pregnant.
Heightened Sense of Smell and Taste
This is a first sign of pregnancy that many women experience very early in their pregnancy. For some women their senses are much more sensitive and easily noticeable, while others can barely notice the difference. There are few other factors that cause your senses to become more sensitive. If you experience this first sign of pregnancy, you’re probably pregnant. This is especially true if you experience this symptom with one or more other early pregnancy symptoms.
The above first signs of pregnancy can be difficult to detect since there can be other factors causing them. Many of the signs are similar to normal premenstrual symptoms which make detection more challenging. If you think you may be pregnant, you should take a home pregnancy test to know for sure. Regardless of the result, you should repeat the test within 7-10 days to confirm the results.
I’m Pregnant: What do I do?
Once you know you’re pregnant, you should call your doctor immediately. You need to begin planning your prenatal care, start taking special prenatal vitamins and begin a pregnancy nutrition and fitness program. The first few months of your pregnancy are the most critical since this is when your baby’s major organs and brain are developing. The first trimester is also when most miscarriages occur, so your nutrition and fitness are critical during this period for you and your baby.
To Your Health,
Technorati Tags: early signs of pregnancy, first signs of pregnancy, signs of pregnancy
Related Tags: No Tags
Pregnancy Exercise Program - Beneficial for All Women?
April 9th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Unless you are specifically advised by your doctor not to exercise, most women benefit from maintaining a pregnancy exercise program. This applies to women who exercised regularly before pregnancy as well as those who did not. There have been numerous studies done and a pregnancy exercise program is proven to be beneficial for you and your baby. A good pregnancy exercise program should include strength training, aerobic exercise and stretching. In addition to reviewing your exercise program with your doctor you should discuss the intensity of your workout and warning signs of overexerting yourself.
Below are some of the benefits of a pregnancy exercise program:
- easier labor and delivery. Labor time may be shortened and risk of complication reduced;
- minimize risk of premature birth and cesarean section;
- enhance post-delivery weight loss and recovery;
- reduce stress and depression;
- reduce risk of developing gestational diabetes, hypertension or high blood pressure which are common during pregnancy;
- may enhance your baby’s mental capacity and fitness;
- increased metabolism minimizes excess weight gain during pregnancy;
- improves energy and endurance;
- improved circulation to reduce varicose veins, hemorrhoids and water retention; and
- relieve backaches and constipation.
Based upon the above benefits it’s easy to see why a pregnancy exercise program is highly recommended for a healthy pregnancy. The possibility of a shorter and easier delivery may be reason enough to start an exercise program even if you never maintained a regular exercise program before.
Specific Exercises
A good pregnancy exercise program includes activities that stimulate the cardiovascular system and major muscles of the body. Examples of exercises that meet these conditions include: walking, swimming, riding a stationary bicycle, using a elliptical trainer and yoga. All of these activites are also low impact which minimizes the risk of injury and other problems. Yoga enhances focus and body strength both of which are beneficial during labor.
In addition to aerobic activities, strength training should be included in a comprehensive pregnancy exercise program. Depending upon the condition of the mother, strength training should be done 2-3 times per week. The remaining 3 or 4 days per week should be devoted to aerobic activities. Ideally you should exercise 30 minutes per day, six days per week. If you are too tired to exercise some days, you should at least do your stretching activities.
Inappropriate activities would include any activity where the chance of falling or other injury is present. This would include skating, riding an outdoor bicycle and similar activities.
Exercise Caution
Although a pregnancy exercise program is important, you need to make sure your do not over exert yourself. This is especially true during your first trimester which is when your baby’s critical organs and brain are being developed. Scientific studies suggest that the overheating of a mother’s body may contribute to birth defects, so caution must be used. Make sure you discuss pregnancy exercise guidelines with your doctor regarding intensity and warning signs of over exerting yourself.
Exercise guidelines may include:
- stop if you feel faint, dizzy or feel stomach cramps or contractions and call your doctor immediately;
- keep your heart rate below a specified range, some suggest 120 beats per minute; and
- if you start to get too hot, slow down and listen to your body. Do not get yourself overheated, cool down.
Summary
A pregnancy exercise program has numerous health and emotional benefits for you and your baby. Even if you have never exercised regularly before, pregnancy is a great time to get started. Your pregnancy exercise program should include strength training, aerobics and stretching. Exercise is beneficial provided you do not over do it. Make sure you discuss your exercise program in detail with your doctor. Your doctor should help you develop a list of guidelines to ensure that your pregnancy exercise program is safe and effective.
To Your Health,
Technorati Tags: exercise during pregnancy, pregnancy exercise, pregnancy exercise program
Related Tags: No Tags
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.
Technorati Tags: ectopic pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy symptom
Related Tags: No Tags
