Infertility has become a widespread problem for women. Generally symptoms are not noticeable unless a person is made aware of it. Infertility varies and has several types with different signs and symptoms among women, and it can also affect her partner.
It is advised to see a doctor if a woman has failed countless times in the process of getting pregnant. A more acceptable case would be having unprotected intercourse for up to two years averaging to two or three times a week. In this situation a couple should schedule an appointment with their doctors to discuss possible solution to their fertility problem. After being diagnosed with the problem, the couple is then referred to a specialist to find more specific medical solutions.
An irregular menstrual cycle is by far the most common sign of infertility. If a woman has an irregular menstrual cycle it doesn't necessarily make her sterile, those symptoms can be a sign of many other health problems. Being too thin or obese in relation to the woman's overall health status is also considered as a sign of infertility. Being too thin can also lead to lack of the needed nutrients which can make the problem even worse. In the case of obesity, hormonal problems are a common cause that has a great potential in directly affecting a woman's reproductive health. Unhealthy lifestyle practices like alcohol and substance abuse also cause infertility. A woman's ability to conceive can be worsen by these factors. Basically, the overall capability of the body to work normally is greatly affected with the woman's abuse of drugs and other substances. These women are more susceptible to having infertility problems.
Aside from women, infertility can also affect men. It can in fact have some physical symptoms in men. Men's most common sign of infertility is the fact that they have undescended testicles. Outside factors also play a vital role in the development of infertility for men. If a man wears tight jeans or tight underwear it could cause him the inability to produce adequate sperm. A worse factor involves the scrotum or gonad's exposure to heat causing infertility.
In some cases, couples tend to show the same signs of the health problem. Factors like obesity and abuse of certain substances directly affect both the man and woman's reproductive capabilities. The before mentioned factors can directly affect a man's ability to produce the sufficient amount of sperm needed for reproduction and it can also make it impossible for a woman to have a child.
The first step is to absolutly make sure that infertility truly is the couple problem and the best way to take care of this issue is to take all the necessary steps during intercourse while the woman is ovulating. This is simply done as the woman is capable of determining her basal body temperature or through the aid of an ovulation kit
. A direct cause for infertility could be the inability of having intercourse at the right time of the month.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Popular Choices in Pregnancy Pillows
pregnancy pillows are a great way to relax and improve one’s sleep while pregnant. If you are considering a pregnancy pillow, there are so many styles, fabrics, and shapes to choose from, you might feel overwhelmed by the choices. We have reviewed some of the most popular choices below for your reference when making this exciting purchase.
Pregnancy Pillow Sizes
Pregnancy pillows come in a variety of sizes, from the smallest which are used only to support the belly, to much longer ones that can wrap around an entire adult body.
* Small pillows: Smaller pregnancy pillows intended only to support the abdominal area can relieve some of the pains of pregnancy, and are particularly useful when travelling. However, they may not be sufficient to provide the support you will need.
* Medium pillows: Some pregnancy pillows are simply body-length pillows that you can wrap around yourself to increase your comfort. These are easier to store and often less expensive that larger ones.
* Large pillows: While the larger pregnancy pillows can be incredibly comfortable, and used after birth for positioning while breastfeeding or even an infant play area, a mother-to-be must consider the size of her bed to decide if a larger pillow is the best choice.
Shapes: So Many Pregnancy Pillows to Choose from
Pregnancy pillows come in many shapes, from simple lines and wedges to more complex, wraparound designs.
* Basic pregnancy pillows: These pillows are longer versions of standard pillows and meant to be wrapped in an S-shape around the pregnant woman’s neck and along the spine to support the back and abdomen.
* Wedges. Simple wedges, much like a block of cheese in shape, can be set under the abdomen to relieve abdominal pressure while sleeping or reclining on one’s side.
* L- and J- shaped pillows are some of the more simple shapes, with the longer component used to support the spine and the shorter side tucked under the belly.
* C- and U- shaped pillows are the largest and most complex shapes of pregnancy pillows. Both provide great support for the belly, knees, and back; and when folded in half can be used for support while reclining by the pregnant woman as well.
Which pregnancy pillow fabric is right for me?
The major consideration when choosing the fabric of your pregnancy pillow is your own comfort.
* Hormonal fluctuations in pregnant woman can result in hot flashes and night sweats. It is important that the fabric of your pregnancy pillow dries quickly and breathes easily so that it won’t exacerbate these types of problems.
* You may find yourself using your pregnancy pillow while reading, snacking, watching televisions, and even later while breastfeeding. Make sure that your pregnancy pillow is covered in a fabric that is easy to wash so that cleaning it won’t be hassle.
Whichever size, shape, and fabric you choose, pregnancy pillows are a great way to make pregnancy more comfortable and enjoyable.
Pregnancy Pillow Sizes
Pregnancy pillows come in a variety of sizes, from the smallest which are used only to support the belly, to much longer ones that can wrap around an entire adult body.
* Small pillows: Smaller pregnancy pillows intended only to support the abdominal area can relieve some of the pains of pregnancy, and are particularly useful when travelling. However, they may not be sufficient to provide the support you will need.
* Medium pillows: Some pregnancy pillows are simply body-length pillows that you can wrap around yourself to increase your comfort. These are easier to store and often less expensive that larger ones.
* Large pillows: While the larger pregnancy pillows can be incredibly comfortable, and used after birth for positioning while breastfeeding or even an infant play area, a mother-to-be must consider the size of her bed to decide if a larger pillow is the best choice.
Shapes: So Many Pregnancy Pillows to Choose from
Pregnancy pillows come in many shapes, from simple lines and wedges to more complex, wraparound designs.
* Basic pregnancy pillows: These pillows are longer versions of standard pillows and meant to be wrapped in an S-shape around the pregnant woman’s neck and along the spine to support the back and abdomen.
* Wedges. Simple wedges, much like a block of cheese in shape, can be set under the abdomen to relieve abdominal pressure while sleeping or reclining on one’s side.
* L- and J- shaped pillows are some of the more simple shapes, with the longer component used to support the spine and the shorter side tucked under the belly.
* C- and U- shaped pillows are the largest and most complex shapes of pregnancy pillows. Both provide great support for the belly, knees, and back; and when folded in half can be used for support while reclining by the pregnant woman as well.
Which pregnancy pillow fabric is right for me?
The major consideration when choosing the fabric of your pregnancy pillow is your own comfort.
* Hormonal fluctuations in pregnant woman can result in hot flashes and night sweats. It is important that the fabric of your pregnancy pillow dries quickly and breathes easily so that it won’t exacerbate these types of problems.
* You may find yourself using your pregnancy pillow while reading, snacking, watching televisions, and even later while breastfeeding. Make sure that your pregnancy pillow is covered in a fabric that is easy to wash so that cleaning it won’t be hassle.
Whichever size, shape, and fabric you choose, pregnancy pillows are a great way to make pregnancy more comfortable and enjoyable.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
How Early Can you Have Symptom of Pregnancy?
Earliest Possible Signs Of Pregnancy
Several experiences of pregnant women reveal how they differ in noticing the pregnancy symptoms. They not only differ in terms of variety of symptoms, also in the order of their arrival and the period of pregnancy in which those are noticeable. Following experiences of pregnant women will give you practical tips on how early can you have symptom of pregnancy –
1.Determining symptoms of pregnancy can be varying with women, as some women conclude that within seven or eight days from implantation of eggs in the uterus, HCG hormones starts to be released that trigger symptoms of pregnancy to arrive.
2.Pregnancy hormones start taking effects from about ten days from the conception. Symptoms tend to be more intense with gradual increase in the level of pregnancy hormones. Even if these hormones emerge quite early stage of pregnancy, yet it is not possible to detect such hormones through your blood or urine before schedules of your periods.
3.Many reported to have noticed frequent urination and aversion to foods around two weeks after fertilization. Still, instances are not rare when no symptoms were noted until two months of pregnancy.
4.Some women claim to be unnoticed about their pregnancy for about one month. Weight gain can be a determining factor in detecting pregnancy, as some noticed their weight to remain same even after permutation of various weight loss regimens. In spite of losing they started to gain weight, on the contrary. If you experience the same, take a closer look on what other changes you are undergoing along with weight gain to detect pregnancy.
5.Apart from a missed period, another obvious symptom of pregnancy that most women notice is tender, sore and heavy breasts, which may arrive even before missed periods. This symptom may often accompany with other symptoms like heartburn, morning sickness, achy cramps, fatigues, nausea etc., which again may vary in women.
6.Increased level of basal body temperature for some has been first early symptoms of pregnancy. Chart your body temperature as well as other signs that may come with the temperature rise. People who have waited till their body temperature to be raised until 20 degree higher before testing along with presence of other few symptoms have shown a positive pregnancy test result.
Facts and Symptoms Regarding Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an important stage for every woman bringing joy in the family but on the other hand, pregnancy involves many changes in women's body and lifestyle. Even though being pregnant is not a disease, there are certain symptoms that indicate a possible pregnancy. Much more, pregnancy symptoms differ from woman to woman but most of them are the same in every case. In addition to this, signs of a possible pregnancy usually occur within a week of conception or several weeks or even cannot be present at all.
For instance, a first sign which may indicate the presence of pregnancy is the lack of menstrual cycle. Moreover some women may have a light bleeding or they can face another pregnancy symptom which usually appears in less than 2 weeks from conceptions and it is known as implantation bleeding. This symptom occurs when the embryo implants itself into the uterine wall, producing in this way bleeding and sometimes cramps.
Secondly, a common symptom of pregnancy which usually occurs or not between 2-8 weeks after conceptions is the morning sickness. Many women feel nausea at the beginning of their pregnancy and even during it and much more they may feel sick because of certain foods and odors. On the other hand, some women may feel the strong desire to eat certain dishes or even foods that used to hate before their pregnancy.
Some other signs which may show a possible pregnancy are some changes that affect the woman's body. In addition to this some of these changes are the swollen or tender breasts, lower backaches, the sudden rise of hormones in the body that might cause headaches, swollen ankles and also weight gain. Pregnant women may notice some changes on their breasts, the skin around their nipples may get darker, a symptom which may have other explanations, such as hormonal imbalances or may be a leftover effect from previous pregnancies.
Thirdly, other sign which is related to pregnancy is the frequent urination. This sign may confirm the presence of a pregnancy only if it comes along with other signs of pregnancy. On the other hand, frequent urination may be caused by the urinary tract infection, diabetes or increasing liquid intake. What is more is that some pregnancy symptoms may be changes in women's behaviour like feeling tired or sensitive, some things might made them angry or cry out of the blue.
To conclude, even though pregnancy is a normal thing which occurs to almost all women, it requires lots of attention and the change of lifestyle. Most of women can esily know if they are pregnant and can handle very well the pregnancy symptoms which sometimes may tend to be hard to carry on.
Maintain a Weekly Pregnancy Calendar
Weekly pregnancy calendar is something that every expectant mother should possess. A weekly pregnancy calendar records the chronological changes that a woman and the fetus inside her undergo during nine months of her pregnancy. Any pregnancy health related concerns right from last date of menstruation, to experiencing an early sign of pregnancy and growth and development of the fetus can be described in the weekly pregnancy calendar. The calculation of a pregnancy calendar is also very simple. You have to start from the last date of menstruation till the predicted date of your child’s birth.
The Benefits of Pregnancy Calendar:
The first thing that you will ask your doctor after being confirmed of your pregnancy is the due date or the predicted date of your child’s birth. And as a duty bound expectant mother you will note down the predicted date on your weekly pregnancy calendar. Generally a very small percentage of babies are born on the stipulated date and most of them are born during the thirty eighth and forty second week from the last menstrual period. This is why it is important for an expectant mother to maintain a weekly pregnancy calendar as it will help her and her spouse analyze the growth of their baby as well as keep a check on her health.
The nine months of pregnancy is generally divided into trimester and so it becomes easy for you to mainly your weekly pregnancy calendar on the basis of trimester. The first trimester lasts from first week of pregnancy to the twelfth week of pregnancy. The second trimester starts from week thirteen and extends up to the twenty sixth week. The third trimester covers the rest of the weeks, i.e. from 27-40 and ends with baby’s delivery. The last few weeks are very crucial and there will be additional concerns during these weeks. It is very important to note every particular concern in the weekly pregnancy calendar, as contractions will occur in a more pronounced way and is often referred to as “false labor.”
These contractions are usually mistaken as true contractions but are not as frequent as real labor contractions. The irrefutable sign that your labor has begun is when your amniotic sac ruptures and there is a large flow of water. A doctor should be immediately consulted and if possible the expectant mother should be hospitalized. Maintaining a weekly pregnancy calendar will help you keep a track of the baby’s progress and development and also note down the time and date when actual labor pain starts.
your Body is the Best Indicator
Hallmark Symptoms of Pregnancy:
Feeling of exhaustion and lack of energy are early signs of pregnancy. Often this tiredness is accredited to other things that are part of everyday life. The hormonal changes that takes in the body due to pregnancy and also the amount of work that you are doing is the cause of fatigue. And, the hormonal changes are usually attributed to early sings of pregnancy. The best way to overcome this fatigue is to lie down on bed as much as you can. A short nap is not ruled out to avoid this fatigue. Another very rare but early sign of pregnancy is implantation bleeding. Just before your menstrual cycle begins there is a brown or slightly pink vaginal discharge. This usually happens when the fertilized egg is embedded in the uterus. This is very rare phenomenon and only happens in 30% of all pregnancy cases.
Nauseatic feeling is perhaps one of the hallmarks of pregnancy symptoms. Again we often mistake it to be a consequence of food poisoning. But nausea is something that grows gradually. Nauseatic feeling will be slight and is one of the early sign of pregnancy but will increase with time. Nausea does not subside easily and this is perhaps one of the first signals that a woman is pregnant. A missing period is perhaps a sure though not always early sign of pregnancy. Even if consistent feeling of nausea does not send a hint to a woman that she is regnant, a missing period will surely do.
Since a woman’s body is continuously working hard to support the growth of embryo, it continuously needs energy to sustain itself. And that energy is provided by a healthy diet. Increase in the diet level is also an early sign of pregnancy. However, decrease in the appetite level can also be an early sign of pregnancy. It can go either way and vary on everyday basis. A clear understanding of pregnancy health issues is brought out in the pregnancy journals and also various pregnancy related websites.
There are too many early signs of pregnancy and unfortunately we cannot provide a perfect list that can help you determine whether you are pregnant or not. It is not necessary that you experience all the early signs of pregnancy but you tend to experience a few of them. Some women have even reported of experiencing no symptoms at all. Just remember your body is the best indicator to tell you whether you are pregnant or not, even before you undergo a pregnancy test.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Pregnancy With High Blood Pressure
Types Of Pregnancy With High Blood Pressure
There are mainly three different types of high blood pressure during pregnancy.
1. Chronic hypertension: When high blood pressure develops before 20 weeks of pregnancy or lasts more than 12 weeks after delivery. Often, it happens that chronic hypertension was present, but not detected, before pregnancy.
2. Gestational hypertension: When high blood pressure develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy and usually disappears after delivery.
3. Preeclampsia: A serious condition characterized by increased blood pressure and protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy. If left untreated, Preeclampsia can lead to serious, even fatal complications for both mother and the baby.
If you are planning to get pregnant, you must consult your doctor. If you are already pregnant, you should again keep in touch with your doctor for he will check your weight and blood pressure on a regular basis. If you are a patient of pregnancy with high blood pressure, you should carefully observe the following symptoms
Headaches
Blurred vision or sensitivity to light
Abdominal pain
Nausea or vomiting
Decrease urine output
Sudden weight gain
If you face any of the above signs, immediately talk to your doctor about it. If you are taking any medicine, your doctor should know about that as well. Any medication taken during pregnancy can affect the baby, however if medication is needed, the doctor will prescribe the safest medication at the most appropriate dose.
Although, high blood pressure and related disorders during pregnancy can have serious repercussions, most women have successful pregnancies even though they develop Preeclampsia. Along with the precautions given by your doctor, it is very important that you keep yourself happy and engaged in activity. You should enjoy the changes that occur during these nine months and record your pregnancy week by week in a pregnancy journal. You should remain relaxed especially during the last trimester. Get high on being pregnant not on your blood pressure!
The Beginning
1. Periods: Missed periodis the very first sign for a woman to know whether she is pregnant or not. However, the problem here is that not every period missed is because of pregnancy. Irregularity in menstrual cycle is also observed due to stress and over-tiredness. Moreover, in some cases, periods continue albeit lightly, even after pregnancy for one or two months. This first sign of pregnancy because of their unawareness may mislead women who are pregnant for the first time.
2. Breasts: Another apparent symptom for the first sign of pregnancy is tender or swollen breasts, with tingling sensation that occur immediately after conception. However, this symptom may be the result of the side-effects of some birth control pills or PMS, the breast changes may not be taken as a definite indicator of pregnancy.
3. Morning sickness: Morning sickness is another first sign of pregnancy. Though it is called morning sickness, it may come at any time during the day. Usually, it comes for two to eight weeks after becoming pregnant. However, there may be other possible causes for the illness like food poisoning, infection etc.
4. Excess urination: It has been medically found that women immediately after conceiving urinate frequently. This is also one of the first signs of pregnancy. However, there are other causes for excessive urination as well like diuretics, urinary infection, diabetes, or even tension.
5. Fetal Heart Beat: The point here is none of the above first signs of pregnancy may be a definite indicator or proof for a woman to confirm herself about her pregnancy, more so in the case of first time pregnant women. Having said all the above, it must be mentioned here that the first confirmed proof of pregnancy comes in the form of the first fetal heart beat, that is audible to the woman during the first ten to twenty weeks [in ultrasound]. This along with the any one of the above pregnancy symtoms viz., missed period, breast changes, morning sickness, frequent urination may conclusively confirm that a woman is carrying (her baby).
Medicine on Pregnancy
Your asthma symptoms may get worse or may be better or does not change at all during pregnancy. If your asthma is severe, chances are it can become worse during pregnancy.
If you want a healthy baby, you should be healthy. It is very important to treat asthma in pregnancy because the risks of uncontrolled asthma in pregnancy are greater than the risks of asthma medicine.
There is no information about the safety of new asthma drugs in pregnancy because a woman who is pregnant and who might become pregnant does not take part in the safety tests during the testing of drugs, because of the fear of harming the baby.
Even the drug manufacturers do not take risk with unborn babies. New asthma drug should be avoided during pregnancy if possible.
But the old asthma medicine has been used from years. These old asthma medicines have been used for years during pregnancy and are known to be safe in pregnancy and the drugs which are not safe are not used as long before they are declared as unsafe.
Pregnant women have doubt about the use of inhalers. The doctors believe that the amount of medicine you get from an inhaler is small and goes directly to the lungs and it is not likely to harm your baby.
Effects of asthma in pregnancy:
Especially in the third trimester, asthma improves with pregnancy. Due to the increasing size of uterus, sensation of breathlessness occurs and this is mistaken as worsening of asthma.
Many women experience worsening asthma symptoms as they stop using asthma medicine due to the fear of side effects on the unborn child. Women who stop their asthma medicine have worsened asthma symptoms and are more at risk of early labor and poor growth of baby.
Asthma medicine and pregnancy:
Visit your doctor soon after realizing that you are pregnant to discuss about the best way to manage the symptoms of asthma with asthma medicine. The doctor will prescribe effective asthma medicine during pregnancy and continue to workout throughout your pregnancy to ensure the treatment is effective without side effects.
Woes in Pregnancy
Heartburn During Pregnancy:
Heartburn during pregnancy is one of the most common side effects of pregnancy. Hormones released during pregnancy allow the softening of the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach. When this happens, stomach acids back up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation. This may also occur in the latter months of pregnancy as your baby pushes all of your organs upward. You may experience heartburn as a burning sensation in your throat or chest. Other women experience heartburn as a large lump like feeling in their throat or upper chest. Fortunately there are ways to minimize your heartburn woes during pregnancy and honey with milk recipe is one of them. Mixing some honey with your milk is very good for helping neutralize the excess of stomach acid. Drink a glass of milk every night before going to bed.
Colds During Pregnancy:
Colds are quite common during pregnancy. Pregnant women tend to be more susceptible as their immune systems are lowered and their mucous membranes tend to swell during pregnancy. This can make it more difficult to overcome coughs and colds, and cause difficulty in breathing. If you do catch a cold you can increase your consumption of vitamin C rich foods including fruits and fruit juices. Many women find sipping teas including lemon and honey tea can help alleviate a sore and uncomfortable throat.
Morning Sickness:
Morning sickness is a common experience with about 70 percent of all women experiencing nausea and /or vomiting during or especially their first trimester of pregnancy. In more serious cases, morning sickness can present more severe health complications such as weight loss, and malnutrition for the mother and developing baby. Traditional remedies for expectant mothers trying to treat the nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy include soda and crackers which are only marginally helpful. Ginger works against ailments of the reproductive and digestive systems because it promotes circulation and encourages a good blood supply to these organs. Modest amounts of ginger tea with honey are a great remedy for nausea and vomiting. In the early weeks of pregnancy, the further stimulation of blood flow into the abdomen is not recommended, so go easy on ginger at this time.
Caution:
While there are many natural remedies during pregnancy and honey remedies are known to be quite safe in helping to relieve some of the common side effects or complaints of pregnancy (honey is not allowed for new-born and young children under 1-yr old ,though), bear in mind that something is natural does not always mean it is safe, for instance there are many herbs that are best avoided during pregnancy. As with anything, during pregnancy always check in with your medical doctor when you are in doubt.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
the Degree of the Variation is Very High
Implantation Bleeding
One of the earliest sign of pregnancy is implantation bleeding. It can take place as early as within 6 to 12 days of the conception. The reason behind the implantation bleeding is implanting of the embryo on the uterine walls. The time of this kind of bleeding is almost same when you would have your menstrual period had you not missed it because of the pregnancy. As and when you observe the first sign of pregnancy you should take the help of weekly pregnancy calendar so that you get to know about the changes take place in the body of the fetus and mother from time to time.
Irritation In The Behavior Along With The Indigestion And Heartburn
If a woman starts irritating easily then it can also be a sign of pregnancy. A pregnant woman has to face many types of sickness and tiredness because of the changes in the hormones. So, the other people living with the pregnant woman should understand it and must cooperate with the pregnant woman. In addition to irritation a pregnant woman may also experience the problem of indigestion and heartburn.
Change Of Complexion And Loss Of Weight
Breaking skin and change in the complexion is also a sign of pregnancy. This again is a result of the raging hormones in the body. However, this problem does not last much and usually ends by the second trimester of the pregnancy period. In some cases the pregnant women pass white and thick cervical mucous that is more in the quantity than the normal. One surprising sign of pregnancy is the loss of weight. If it is the first trimester of the pregnancy period then it is not unlikely that you may shed a little bit of weight. However, this weight loss is understandable because of more healthy food intake due to loss of appetite along with no or less alcohol consumption.
Sign of Pregnancy – the Unmistakable Symptoms
Sign of pregnancy
There are several symptoms and signs of pregnancy experienced fairly early, even before the missed periods stage. Nearly all women go through it. Some women may overlook it, as they are not able to distinguish the early signs of pregnancy from similar health problems. While some women immediately sense the abrupt change in their body and take precaution. Some of these early signs of pregnancy are:
General fatigue: You may notice that you feel tired, fatigued and lack of energy. A feeling of laziness engulfs with no apparent cause. This fatigue is the result of change in hormones and body chemistry as it prepares it self to welcome a new life. The fatigue starts soon after conception and is generally the first and foremost sign of pregnancy. Do not resort to pep pills but instead get into the bed and sleep till later. Work off fatigue with short naps and relaxation as and when you feel low.
Tenderness of breasts: Raging hormones cause tenderness in the breasts, swelling and soreness soon after conception. Many women ignore this symptom associating it with PMS syndrome. Change in the breast is one of the early sign of pregnancy and stays till end of the pregnancy. It is the nature's way to prepare a woman for impending motherhood and nurturing of the baby.
Slight spotting before periods: It is a rare but important sign of pregnancy and happens before your due period date. This spotting or light bleeding or a pink vaginal discharge occurs when the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus.
While nausea, missed periods and general aches and pains are the sure signs of pregnancy in early stages. It is best to record these body changes and early signs of pregnancy in a pregnancy journal. The journal records your experiences, feelings and thoughts that can be shared with family or friends either for their benefit or for enjoying your happy moments. A pregnancy journal has a way of taking away your attention from general pains and aches to make you a happier person.
Once the pregnancy is confirmed maintain a weekly pregnancy calendar to record the growth and progress of the embryo to babyhood. This also helps in keeping track of your due date, baby's development and mother's health starting from the day you discover the first sign of pregnancy.
Weekly Pregnancy Calendar
Weekly Pregnancy Calendar
A weekly pregnancy calendar is a chronological record of the changes a woman and her fetus will undergo during the course of her pregnancy. It describes at length the growth and development of growing baby and expected changes in the mother's body with advancing pregnancy, on a weekly basis. At the early sign of pregnancy, print out one such web weekly pregnancy calendar and put it on a spot where you can see it daily for monitoring your pregnancy progress.
Importance of a weekly pregnancy calendar
A visit to a doctor after experiencing the early signs of pregnancy will confirm your pregnancy. The doctor will calculate your probable due date of delivery. This date is usually about forty weeks from the first day of your last menstruation. A very small number of babies are actually born on their exact due date. Most are born two weeks earlier or two weeks later than the expected due date. This is where the weekly pregnancy calendar becomes important. It helps in keeping the dates of conception, expected due date, track of baby's development through various stages of growth per week and monitors mother's health by telling of body changes you will experience every week.
A full term of pregnancy is separated and divided into three trimesters.
First trimester. First week to twelfth week.
Second trimester. Thirteenth week to twenty- sixth weeks.
Third trimester. Twenty seventh week till the date of baby's delivery.
The Early Pregnancy Symptoms in Women
Initial Indicators:
Generally known as morning sickness, nauseatic feeling or even vomiting can be early pregnancy symptoms. Nauseatic feeling can occur at a very early stage and many of us mistake it as a consequence of food poisoning or even something that is coming down with a cold. Early pregnancy symptom can also be felt when you become over sensitive to smells in everyday life, especially foodstuffs, such as tea, coffee and toasts. These everyday smells can really trigger nauseatic feeling.
Frequent urination and breast tenderness are also early pregnancy symptoms, frequent urination usually occurs in the early stages of pregnancy. Unlike normal situations, you find yourself running to the toilet more often and there is not respite at night also. It is common complaints of women to their doctors that their breasts and nipples are becoming extremely tender and the nipples are enlarging. Tenderness of breasts and enlargement of nipples are early pregnancy symptom and these changes prepare you for breastfeeding after the baby as born.
The first indication and infact the earliest symptom of pregnancy is a missed menstrual period. Often frequent cramps and back pain are early pregnancy symptoms. However, as a part of prevention measure, you should always consult your doctor in case any cramping or light bleeding occurs. You tend to miss your food unintentionally and it is also early pregnancy symptom. Continuous skipping of food lowers your blood sugar level and it can make you feel dizzy or in extreme cases you can even faint.
Constipation, irritating behavior pattern, indigestion, changes in the texture of your complexion and increased cervical mucous are all early pregnancy symptoms. To know more about early stages of pregnancy, you can always read pregnancy journals to have a clear and better understanding. It can be surprising but weight loss during the first trimester of pregnancy can also be an early pregnancy symptom. Pregnancy health issues are something which every woman should know, either through journals or by consulting a doctor.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Teen Pregnancy
Constant pre-natal care from your doctor, nutrition experts and clinic as well as family and friends is one of the basic things to be followed. Drinking and smoking should be avoided at all costs as it causes irreparable damage to the little one inside. Drugs prescribed by the doctor are the only ones to be taken. A balanced and nutritional diet should be top priority. Teenage pregnancies are always laden with the risks of going back to drugs, smoking; as a result the babies develop immature organs/systems, even retardation in many cases and the most dominant, early death during infancy.
Correct Nutrition and Medication during Teen Pregnancy:
Since, a teenager’s body is still growing, it is necessary to eat the right amount of pregnancy diet that is essential for you as well as your baby. Correct composition of vitamins and minerals are required mainly in case of a teen pregnancy. It is normal to gain 25-30 pounds during pregnancy and the minimum intake of calories per day should be no less than 300.Gaining weight is much more important if you want to breastfeed the child. Never skip meals and avoid junk food as much as possible as the have very little or no nutrient value at all. If you cannot afford nutritious food, inform your health care providers and ask them for advice and they will enroll you into the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program.
LOVE AND CARE MOST REQUIRED TO DEAL WITH TEEN PREGNANCY:
The prevalence of teenage pregnancy is the highest in the U.S and most of such pregnancies end up in premature deliveries or abortions. Most of them are unintended. No strenuous exercises should be done during this period, but a brisk walk for 15-20 minutes or a game of basketball would be fine. The main cause of teenage pregnancy is the lack of knowledge and awareness. Every parent should discuss the pros and cons of having teenage pregnancies. School education has led to a 10% decrease in teenage pregnancy. Even though it is good to see this, we should understand that a teenage mother-to-be needs extra support and care, as they are incapable of handling the stress of teenage pregnancy. As they are not educated enough, many teenagers do not understand the problem associated with teenage pregnancy and smoking/drinking and intake of drugs. Therefore, all they require during this hard time is to get the unconditional and unending support and advice of their gynecologist and family as well as loved ones. Therefore, teenage pregnancy can be done away with proper communication and education about it, but until that time all the teenage pregnancies and the teenage mothers need to be handled with all the care and love possible.
Learn more to quit smoking
Unplanned Pregnancy
This is where we need to be careful and unplanned pregnancy may complicate your life to a great extent. Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy leaves you with very few choices. Either you decide to keep the baby or you decide to terminate your pregnancy. A third choice is that you put up the baby for adoption. After keeping the baby for nine months in your tummy, it is a very difficult choice to part with it.
Pre-Pregnancy Planning Is A Must
Unwanted pregnancy can be very harmful for the mother, as she has to undergo a lot of pressure from family and her partner if pregnancy planning was not done at the pre conception stage. On the other hand, it is possible that you yourself do not want to be pregnant due to career choices or financial constraints. From having a carefree life, you are suddenly faced with the consequences of being casual about pregnancy. Pregnancy is a shared responsibility, and you and your partner, both have to be physically and mentally prepared, to deal with it. It should create joy for both.
Means For Birth Control
You can delay pregnancy or avoid pregnancy by many ways and means. You can take birth control pills, use prophylactics etc. to make sure you stay clear of unwanted pregnancy. However, there have been cases in which a woman became pregnant even while using birth control methods. However, these are only accidental cases and negligible. It is essential that you do not get pregnant when you are in the pre pregnancy stage. When you decide to delay your pregnancy by birth control methods, you should start consulting your family physician on which birth control method is best suitable for you. No accidental pregnancy is welcome. It is a forced situation and it is not in the best interest of the mother or the baby.
Unplanned Pregnancy May Complicate Life To A Great Extent
Unplanned pregnancy can be a great pain in the neck. Just imagine a situation when you are taking strong medication or chemotherapy or you are a drug addict and you have unwanted pregnancy. All these situations are disastrous for the fetus. You will have to terminate the pregnancy and you will have to undergo a great physical turmoil as well.
There is a very common unplanned pregnancy situation, which keeps cropping up in every pregnancy clinic. When the woman of the house gets pregnant, the man of the house suddenly has to stick to celibacy for 4-6 months. Soon after the baby’s delivery, both parents wait anxiously for the mother to recover completely, to resume their sexual activities. In their anxiousness, they usually cross the border and the woman becomes pregnant once again in 3-4 months. In such a situation, usually couples decide to terminate pregnancy. You should be very careful to go for abortion by operation. It can have adverse effects on the body of the woman. Even abortion without operation is an unhealthy way to clear unplanned pregnancy.
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Pregnancy Morning Sickness
Usually, women who have conceived can feel thrown up throughout the day or in the morning, also may feel nausea for weeks after weeks. An acute aversion to foods that you have earlier enjoyed is also very common among women who undergo this pregnancy morning sickness symptom. The good news for women who have just conceived and experiencing this early pregnancy symptom is that with the onset of second trimester of pregnancy, this pregnancy symptom tends to disappear or starts losing intensity. But, you may adopt some tactics to reduce its discomforts now, in the first trimester of pregnancy. Here, to know what causes this morning sickness can only help you apply appropriate remedies for getting relief from this symptom.
What Leads To Morning Sickness
Despite bundle of joy the pregnancy morning sickness points out to, the women who are planning to get pregnant, it is also a source of discouraging feelings to food and different fragrances. Women tend to feel nausea and vomiting in the morning as well as throughout the day. Blame on one of the pregnancy hormone, progesterone as starts kicking in and lead to change your metabolism. The progesterone hormone cause slow down digestion process, therefore, the food consumed cannot be absorbed in the bloodstream in the same pace as earlier and leave women feeling nauseas.
An increased sensitivity to some typical foods and smell is another symptom that is felt while women undergo the pregnancy morning sickness. Your favorite smell of perfume may suddenly become intolerable. You may cook your favorite food, but tend to fall sick while eating them. The weaker your digestive system is, more intensively pregnancy hormone can affect it. On the other hand, you may feel craving for the very stuff you detested before pregnancy! You really need not worry too much...most pregnant women at their early stages show an increased keenness for tangy flavors, chocolate ice creams, etc!
Besides, progesterone hormone, there are other factors as well which may cause you feel the pregnancy morning sickness. Tolerance of heat and excessive tiredness aroused during pregnancy also equally affect women to feel nauseous. During pregnancy period, when tiredness is led by empty stomach is even more effective to cause queasiness. Another major culprit behind the feeling of morning sickness is dehydration. However, proper care can reduce the degree of discomforts felt through morning sickness, if not prevent onset of this symptom.
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Monday, July 13, 2009
Termination of Pregnancy
Despite being two different ways of pregnancy termination, these two resemble each other in the final outcome, which is the death of the fetus. But there is a difference in the causes of both. While miscarriages occur naturally due to complications arising from pregnancy, abortion is induced deliberately with or without any pregnancy problems.
How Do Miscarriages Take Place?
Incidence of miscarriages occurs spontaneously and this is why it is marked as an involuntary termination of pregnancy. Before the fetus is capable of being fully developed and carrying on with its independent life out of the womb, miscarriages could take place and cause death of the baby. There are various reasons for miscarriages to take place, which are –
Presence of disorders in or the suffering of any injuries by the expectant mothers. If the pregnant lady is detected to have certain critical diseases, then she must consult with her doctors and take certain precautions or decide whether there is possibility of natural termination of pregnancy.
Hindrance or complications in the development of the fetus in the sac.
The incidence of miscarriages is found mostly to occur during the span of the first three weeks of pregnancy. Nonetheless, several occurrences of miscarriages have surfaced even in the period between four weeks of pregnancy running. Risks of miscarriages may also remain till the twelfth week of pregnancy. As per conclusions drawn in medical research, termination of pregnancy through miscarriages remain about 15 percent of pregnancies all over the world.
The most common symptom of miscarriages is vaginal bleeding. Often this vaginal bleeding has been experienced along with acute sporadic excruciating pain. If you experience such symptoms during your pregnancy call for the doctor as soon as possible to prevent the chances of preventing the death of fetus. Else the family members should take the initiative to inform the gynecologist about the nature of bleeding, whether mild or heavy, if accompanied by abdominal cramping pain, to suggest immediate measures.
Termination Of Pregnancy Through Abortion
Induced abortion is brought about by the termination of unwanted birth of the fetus. Reasons that lead to the termination of pregnancy through abortion can vary. However, when the pregnancy is said to pose a threat to the mothers or to the fetus or when the pregnancy poses to be highly perilous for both the pregnant woman and the fetus, an abortion is called for.
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Friday, June 26, 2009
Unusual Early Pregnancy Symptoms
Unexpected Pregnancy Symptoms That You May Expect During Pregnancy
Many pregnant women report that they have not come across any of those prevalent pregnancy symptoms like fainting or dizziness or even bleeding. Dies it mean, they were not sent any signs of pregnancy by their body. Probably, they have been. Probably, they have failed to comprehend those signals as positive signs of pregnancy. Therefore, as soon as you get to know what unusual early pregnancy symptoms you are likely to come across, you will be prepared for them and can consult your doctor, accordingly. A list of those symptoms is given below –
1. Spider Veins – Appearance or the veins surrounding chest and upper arms getting prominent is one of the very unusual early pregnancy symptoms. This is one symptom what most women hate and fret over. However, doctors suggest there is nothing to get apprehended about the spider veins as it simply results from an increased blood flow in the body and then being carried over to different vital areas of the body.
2. Nasal Congestion – If you feel your nose to get clogged during pregnancy, you should know it happens due to nasal congestion. This is regarded as one of the unusual early pregnancy symptoms that may lead to having discomforting nights as you have felt during flu. You nose may often bleed even if during a perfect weather with no signs of cold. Consult your doctor to detect pregnancy.
3. Metallic Taste – You may feel metallic taste often during pregnancy. Metal tastes are considered one of the unusual early pregnancy symptoms and are caused due to hormonal changes in your body.
4. Flatulence - Flatulence or arousal of gases are the most embarrassing early pregnancy symptoms. To avoid this symptom, get your diet chart corrected by a specialist.
5. Production of Excessive Saliva – Many expecting mothers feel excess of saliva in their mouth. These excessive saliva productions lead nausea symptom even more discomforting and make it very hard for pregnant mothers to deal with these unusual early pregnancy symptoms. Your mouth may drool even when you are sleeping.
6. Cramping in legs – If you happen to wake up in pains in your legs at midnight, you should include this among early pregnancy symptoms that is not very common. Blame on scarcity of calcium in your body or other causes during pregnancy, talk to your doctor to find ways to reduce it.
7. Facial Hair And Pigmentation – Though women do not hesitate to spend bucks for removal of facial hair, but they may face an increase in facial hair along with facial pigmentation during the course of pregnancy. These are unusual early pregnancy symptoms, but not rare. Therefore, instead of chemical usage, consult with your doctor to alleviate these problems.
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Unplanned Pregnancy – be Wise in your Decision
Pre-Pregnancy Planning Is A Must
Unwanted pregnancy can be very harmful for the mother, as she has to undergo a lot of pressure from family and her partner if pregnancy planning was not done at the pre conception stage. On the other hand, it is possible that you yourself do not want to be pregnant due to career choices or financial constraints. From having a carefree life, you are suddenly faced with the consequences of being casual about pregnancy. Pregnancy is a shared responsibility, and you and your partner, both have to be physically and mentally prepared, to deal with it. It should create joy for both.
Means For Birth Control
You can delay pregnancy or avoid pregnancy by many ways and means. You can take birth control pills, use prophylactics etc. to make sure you stay clear of unwanted pregnancy. However, there have been cases in which a woman became pregnant even while using birth control methods. However, these are only accidental cases and negligible. It is essential that you do not get pregnant when you are in the pre pregnancy stage. When you decide to delay your pregnancy by birth control methods, you should start consulting your family physician on which birth control method is best suitable for you. No accidental pregnancy is welcome. It is a forced situation and it is not in the best interest of the mother or the baby.
Unplanned Pregnancy May Complicate Life To A Great Extent
Unplanned pregnancy can be a great pain in the neck. Just imagine a situation when you are taking strong medication or chemotherapy or you are a drug addict and you have unwanted pregnancy. All these situations are disastrous for the fetus. You will have to terminate the pregnancy and you will have to undergo a great physical turmoil as well.
There is a very common unplanned pregnancy situation, which keeps cropping up in every pregnancy clinic. When the woman of the house gets pregnant, the man of the house suddenly has to stick to celibacy for 4-6 months. Soon after the baby’s delivery, both parents wait anxiously for the mother to recover completely, to resume their sexual activities. In their anxiousness, they usually cross the border and the woman becomes pregnant once again in 3-4 months. In such a situation, usually couples decide to terminate pregnancy. You should be very careful to go for abortion by operation. It can have adverse effects on the body of the woman. Even abortion without operation is an unhealthy way to clear unplanned pregnancy.
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Make Note of Each Symptom of Pregnancy
Possible Signs Of Pregnancy
Making a weekly pregnancy calendar is a good way to check progress of pregnancy. It is as well a good idea for detecting pregnancy as you tend to observe Every symptom of pregnancy arrive gradually. In this regard, a pregnant woman should be aware of the fact that sequence of pregnancy symptoms extensively vary from one woman to another. So if you have not come across a particular symptom, do not start panicking as it may appear later. For example, many women experience swollen and tender breasts as the first sign of pregnancy whereas some feel nausea or dizziness throughout the day before as the primary sign of pregnancy. Hence, chart each sign sent by your body in detail and the symptoms with which it appears to consult your gynecologist and confirm pregnancy. Symptom of pregnancy that you are likely to expect if you are expecting pregnancy after conceiving can be the following –
1. Nausea Or Morning Sickness – Most of the expecting mothers undergo a feeling of sickness after leaving their beds in the morning as well as at the different hours of the day as well. Nausea may linger throughout the entire day. This symptom of pregnancy gives a clear indication of pregnancy. On the other hand, to reduce discomforts of nausea, physicians recommend to divide larger meals into smaller frequent meals and to curb consumption of spicy foods.
2. Increased Exhaustion– Are you are feeling like taking a nap at the afternoon or in the evening and feel tremendously tired to wake up and go to work? Should you let it pass without noting it, you might be skipping a significant symptom of pregnancy. Sudden arrival of tiredness and fatigue without any reason after conceiving is a way in which your body alerts you pregnancy. However, this symptom may disappear after the first trimester of pregnancy and may revive on the third trimester.
3. Fainting – Fainting or dizziness is caused by lowered blood pressure during pregnancy. If you feel your head is spinning as you try to rise after sitting a while or even fainting, contact your doctor or take a home pregnancy test. Expecting mothers should alleviate loads of works and be cautious while putting your feet up.
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The First Week Sign of Pregnancy
The first week sign of pregnancy ticks the alarm that you have started blooming a new life inside you. The pregnancy symptoms are not so visible in the first week of pregnancy. Both your physical and mental health undergoes certain changes after you become pregnant. Make a note of all these changes that start surfacing as early pregnancy symptoms within a couple days from conceiving. Onset of these symptoms at the first week of pregnancy marks implantation of fetus in the uterus and gradual development of it in your body. Drastic hormonal changes take place during this phase to support growth of the baby and the symptoms are just your body’s reaction to these changes. Hence, take care of your body and monitor each first week sign of pregnancy and add to your pregnancy journal to create a week by week pregnancy calendar till the end of nine months course of pregnancy. Pregnancy journals or calendars help women to observe if they are making healthy progress towards childbirth.
How To Determine First Week Of Pregnancy
Now many women wonder how to calculate their pregnancy. Which is the first day of their nine months course of pregnancy? Usually, the first day of the last menstrual period commences the nine months duration of pregnancy. That means the day on which the last normal menstrual period ends is the day when you have become pregnant.
Usually, the ovulation is a thirty-day period and during this time, egg from ovary travels gets into fallopian tube where it is fertilized by a sperm and then descends to uterus for getting developed. The period when the fertilized egg gets into the inner lining of the uterus is considered the first week of pregnancy. Implantation of the fertilized egg at the inner lining of the uterus can be perceivable by slight bleeding and other symptoms. Take care to notice each first week sign of pregnancy for the right calculation of the pregnancy period and to be prepared for the childbirth, gradually.
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
Take An Online Pregnancy Test
1. Light Spotting? Spotting can happen when implantation occurs before your next period begins. Light bleeding from implantation tends to be pinkish or brownish.
2. Urinating More Often? Frequent urination is one of the early signs of pregnancy. Many women experience more frequent urination about 7-12 days after the temperature rise at ovulation.
3. Elevated Body Temperature? A slight increase in body temperature at ovulation is normal. Your basal body temperature staying elevated after ovulation is completed and remaining elevated for the next two weeks can be one of the early signs of pregnancy.
4. Missing a Menstrual Period? A missed period is one of the obvious pregnancy signs when you take an online pregnancy test. However, you can miss periods for other reasons such as illness, stress and reactions to foods or medications.
5. Tiredness? A lack of energy as a pregnancy sign may be hard to distinguish from other kinds of exhaustion. Feeling tired is related to the change in hormones in the body, which usually disappears as the body adjusts to new hormone levels during pregnancy.
6. Feelings of Nausea? Feeling nauseated can happen any time, day or night, although ‘morning sickness’ is the name given to feeling nauseated when pregnant. Only about half of pregnant women will experience nausea.
7. Tender Nipples and Breasts? When you take an online pregnancy test, answering yes to this question can indicate pregnancy. These feelings of tenderness go away as the body becomes accustomed to new hormone levels.
8. Darker Areolas? If the area around the nipples becomes darker, this can be a pregnancy indicator. It can happen as early as one week after conception. The bumps on the areolas may also look more prominent.
Discover How to Lose Pregnancy Weight
Women often feel unattractive during and after pregnancy, which shouldn’t be the case. Pregnancy should not be a struggle; you can be at your best during and after pregnancy. You can feel good during your pregnancy, have a beautiful healthy baby and still get back into your pre-pregnancy shape afterwards. There are things you can do to lose pregnancy weight and get back to your pre-pregnancy shape. Remember that you cannot be the best mom if you aren’t on your best. Here are some tips to help you lose pregnancy weight:
First thing is to have the motivation and the decision to exert effort to lose pregnancy weight. Many women began their life-long struggle with weight after pregnancy. During pregnancy, you may gain 40-60 pounds; you may lose half of it after giving birth and the rest is what you'll have to work for. If you don’t decide to exert effort to lose pregnancy weight you will never lose the other half of the gained weight during pregnancy and worst you will gain more and more weight after each pregnancy until you hardly recognize yourself in the mirror.
Eat properly. You don’t have to go through a crash diet to lose pregnancy weight. This is dangerous not only to your health but to your baby as well especially if you are breastfeeding. Eat a lot of nutritious food while trying to lose pregnancy weight. A balanced diet with vegetables and fruits daily is a good start. Eat foods high in fiber to help you with elimination and keep you from eating too much because fibers are filling.
Engage in an exercise program during and after pregnancy. Consult your doctor, there are safe exercises that you can do while pregnant and there are also exercises for you after giving birth to lose pregnancy weight. Your doctor can advise you when it is safe to exercise after giving birth. Based on your medical history, he can help you decide which exercise programs are best for you and how fast you can shift from one level of exercise to the next. You can also engage in other activities like swimming, yoga and walking.
Ten Skin Problems Of Pregnancy
Most of these changes are directly linked to the enormous amount of hormonal fluctuations women experience during pregnancy. During pregnancy, there are all kinds of changes which can have impact on your skin, leading to new skin problems or worsening of existing ones. In some cases, pregnancy may actually help improve existing skin conditions. Let's look at various skin conditions in more detail, defining the main ten skin problems of pregnancy.
1) Rashes. Rashes appear due to irritation of the skin. One common pregnancy rash is called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP). This is the most frequently seen condition specific to pregnancy. Women with PUPPP demonstrate a rash which starts on the abdomen and can spread to the breasts, arms, thighs, and buttocks.
2) Acne. Acne is another skin condition that may get better or worse during pregnancy. Acne is, at least in part, driven by hormones, so the hormones of pregnancy can lead to more breakouts for some women, and clearer skin for others.
3) Oily skin. Oily skin is third skin condition which may arise during pregnancy. This is related to increased levels of androgen, the male sex hormone, which causes an increase in sebum production. The more sebum produced, the oilier the skin. Many women report that their skin and hair becomes oilier during pregnancy. Most of the time, these issues can be addressed with over the counter oil controlling cleansers and products.
4) Stretch marks. The fourth skin problem of pregnancy, stretch marks arise when the under layers of the skin is stretched, resulting in visible striations on the surface of the skin. Stretch marks can be treated after the fact, but the best treatment is always prevention. Keeping your skin well moisturized, especially on your tummy, breasts, thighs, can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
5) Spider angiomas. These are another possible skin problem of pregnancy. Spider angiomas are groups of very tiny blood vessels which gather around a central point and radiate out like the legs of a spider. Pregnant women are likely to develop these on their chest, faces, arms, and sometimes on other places on the body. Most of these spider angiomas clear up after pregnancy.
6) Chloasma. Chloasma, also called melasma, or the "mask of pregnancy" is another skin condition which is diagnosed when certain areas of the skin turn darker because of excess pigmentation. Most often, this condition affects places of the skin which are most often exposed to sun, like the upper lip, forehead, cheeks. This condition is likely to clear up after pregnancy. Again, you can lessen your chances of chloasma by using a good (baby safe) doctor recommended sunscreen throughout the course of your pregnancy.
7) Too much hair. Changes in the hair are also common during pregnancy. Some women lose a lot of hair within a few months after delivery, while many are troubled with excess hair growth during pregnancy. Excess hair growth is most often seen on the lip and chin, and is triggered by an increase in androgen and other male hormones during pregnancy.
8) Brittle nails. Many women experience breaking, splitting, or brittleness to their nails during pregnancy. Physicians aren't quite sure why this occurs, but it may be managed with an over the counter nail hardening polish. Check with your doctor.
9) Skin tags. Skin tags are little pieces of skin which over-grow and hang from the neck. These can increase in number during pregnancy. If you have skin tags before pregnancy, it may be that pregnancy will cause these to increase.
10) Atopic dermatitis. Also known as eczema, this skin condition may appear or worsen during pregnancy. Marked by extreme skin itchiness, too much scratching can lead to the skin become red, swollen, or cracked.
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Pregnancy Symptom - the Classic Symptoms
Classic pregnancy symptoms
These pregnancy symptoms appear soon after fertilization, within 8-10 days after conception. Some of the pregnancy symptoms stay with you for the entire period of gestation, while some pregnancy symptoms disappear as the pregnancy advances. They stop troubling you as your body starts getting used to change in hormones and settles to the imminent body changes. A few temporary early signs of pregnancy are:
Missed periods or less bleeding at the onset of periods. The absence of periods during the duration of pregnancy is because now the uterine lining need not be shed but used for implantation of the embryo.
Lower abdominal cramps, which begin soon after the implantation of embryo, disappear within a week or two. Headaches caused by rising levels of hormones in the first few days of pregnancy too disappear once the body accepts the change in hormonal levels.
The pregnancy symptoms that last the entire period of pregnancy are:
Nausea and vomiting are the early signs of pregnancy starting in the second week itself. The degree in which you feel sick varies from full fledged to none as the pregnancy advances. It is fairly controlled during the third trimester, making you feel more relaxed and happy.
Tender and swollen breasts appear soon after conception and stays with you till the entire period. It is the nature's way to make the breast ready for baby's breastfeeding. In the last trimester the breasts secrete a liquid called colostrums, which provides immunity to the baby.
Enlarging and darkening of areola is the first sign of pregnancy, and lasts throughout.
Frequent urination and constipation is early sign of pregnancy and increases with the advancing pregnancy due to the pressure of the growing embryo on the surrounding body organs.
Exhaustion and tiredness occurs from initial stages of pregnancy and stay the entire duration of the gestation.
Food cravings for a particular type of food are still an unsolved mystery. Some doctors feel this is the way the body acquires the adequate minerals required by the growing embryo. This pregnancy symptom is an early sign of pregnancy and stays on till the end.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Early Signs of Pregnancy
Early Signs Of Pregnancy Vary For Every Woman
While the surest way to know if you are pregnant is a pregnancy test, the top 10 ways that you can suspect a pregnancy can be listed as:
Missing your period: Irregular menstrual cycles can be due to various reasons and illnesses. However, for a woman who usually has regular periods, a missed cycle is the surest symptoms of pregnancy.
Morning sickness: Nausea can start within the first two weeks of conception and can come anytime of the day. It is, therefore, one of the earliest signs of pregnancy even though not all women may experience it.
Food cravings:a new sense of taste may be acquired in a pregnancy. This leads to peculiar intolerances of certain food material along with special cravings for others. It may not be a sure sign of pregnancy but it can be taken as an alert combined with other symptoms.
Fatigue: Feeling exhausted without enough physical work to justify it can be due to high progesterone levels in your body. Hence, it can be seen as an early sign of pregnancy though in isolation it may just be stress.
Mood swings: Due to hormonal changes and chemical reactions, pregnancies can have psychological effects. This symptom is experienced throughout the pregnancy and is not just an early sign of pregnancy.
Cramps and spotting: spotting of a light pink or brown color may be seen during the implantation period or around the dates of the menstrual cycle. This can be caused by the egg burrowing into the endometrial lining.
Swollen abdomen and breasts: During pregnancy these areas can become tender and swollen similar to routine periods or even more so. This subsides once the body is accustomed to the hormonal changes.
Frequent Urination: After the implantation of the embryo it starts producing a hormone called "human chorionic gonadotropin" (hCG). This leads to more frequent urination and can start as early as the second week.
Darker areolas:The area around your nipples tends to get darker during the first few weeks of your pregnancy. This may however be the lingering effect of your previous pregnancy or a hormonal imbalance caused otherwise.
A Feeling: Many women may state that they had a feeling that they were pregnant. They also claim that they had a certain “glow” during the first few weeks.
Very Early Pregnancy Symptom Before Period
Symptoms To Appear Before An Overdue Period
Missed periods or amenorrhea, as termed by medical practitioners are often regarded side effects of different medicine intakes or can be results of certain medical treatments. Women under stress or anxiety or who follow insufficient or proper diet schedule can end up in delaying their periods. Therefore, considering such factors, it is better not to wait until a missed period to identify pregnancy. Watch out for the onset of each following very early pregnancy symptom.
Vaginal Bleeding –> This vaginal bleeding takes place as soon as the fertilized egg is implanted at the inner wall of uterus. This very early pregnancy symptom before period is noticeable within few days of conceiving in the form of a very light bleeding. Unlike menstruation bleeding, this implantation bleeding is usually of pinkish in color. This spotting or bleeding is absolutely normal and harmless; nonetheless, heavy bleeding of dark color must be informed to your physician as it is of serious concern. Heavy bleeding during pregnancy may signal various pregnancy complications including ectopic pregnancy, miscarriages.
Abdominal Cramping – An abdominal cramping a very common very early pregnancy symptom before period and appears along with vaginal spotting. Take rest for a few minutes or change your position to reduce discomforts of cramping pain in abdomen. Had the cramping pain in abdomen increased, rush to your doctor immediately.
Craving for Foods – At the very early stage of pregnancy, your body may crave for some particular types of weird foods. You may either feel an increased crave for foods like pickles, ice cream or may want to munch on some crackers throughout the day. On the other hand, you may possibly experience you do not like foods that you used to die for. Nausea, a very early pregnancy symptom often accompanies this symptom, in such cases, say no to binge eating and lower consumption of food rich in oil and spices. Smell of your earlier favorite foods may irritate your senses and you may feel like vomiting.
Enlarged Breasts – After conceiving, you may notice your breast may tend to be larger and seem more sensitive and painful when touched and tenderer than before. This early pregnancy symptom is a strong indication of pregnancy. You will observe that your areola seems to darken than earlier.
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Teen Pregnancy
Whom To Contact During Teen Pregnancy?
Constant pre-natal care from your doctor, nutrition experts and clinic as well as family and friends is one of the basic things to be followed. Drinking and smoking should be avoided at all costs as it causes irreparable damage to the little one inside. Drugs prescribed by the doctor are the only ones to be taken. A balanced and nutritional diet should be top priority. Teenage pregnancies are always laden with the risks of going back to drugs, smoking; as a result the babies develop immature organs/systems, even retardation in many cases and the most dominant, early death during infancy.
Correct Nutrition and Medication during Teen Pregnancy:
Since, a teenager’s body is still growing, it is necessary to eat the right amount of pregnancy diet that is essential for you as well as your baby. Correct composition of vitamins and minerals are required mainly in case of a teen pregnancy. It is normal to gain 25-30 pounds during pregnancy and the minimum intake of calories per day should be no less than 300.Gaining weight is much more important if you want to breastfeed the child. Never skip meals and avoid junk food as much as possible as the have very little or no nutrient value at all. If you cannot afford nutritious food, inform your health care providers and ask them for advice and they will enroll you into the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program.
LOVE AND CARE MOST REQUIRED TO DEAL WITH TEEN PREGNANCY:
The prevalence of teenage pregnancy is the highest in the U.S and most of such pregnancies end up in premature deliveries or abortions. Most of them are unintended. No strenuous exercises should be done during this period, but a brisk walk for 15-20 minutes or a game of basketball would be fine. The main cause of teenage pregnancy is the lack of knowledge and awareness. Every parent should discuss the pros and cons of having teenage pregnancies. School education has led to a 10% decrease in teenage pregnancy. Even though it is good to see this, we should understand that a teenage mother-to-be needs extra support and care, as they are incapable of handling the stress of teenage pregnancy. As they are not educated enough, many teenagers do not understand the problem associated with teenage pregnancy and smoking/drinking and intake of drugs. Therefore, all they require during this hard time is to get the unconditional and unending support and advice of their gynecologist and family as well as loved ones. Therefore, teenage pregnancy can be done away with proper communication and education about it, but until that time all the teenage pregnancies and the teenage mothers need to be handled with all the care and love possible.
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Friday, June 19, 2009
Determine Pregnancy Correctly
Various websites give and show methods for pregnancy-curious women to find if they are pregnant and the possibilities of being pregnant. Apparently, with no physical proofs to carry on with, no online test for pregnancy would be fool-proof. Every online pregnancy test would start with questions like the last period date, physical changes or appearance of any symptoms. The software would then check the possibility of being pregnant. These tests are designed for instructing the user if they really need to take a home test or contact their doctor. A web search would yield large number of tests online with options to choose from.
An up-to-date and an accurate test is that which is physically performed by a doctor. They would do an examination similar to a home test with an addition to having a pelvis exam done. Few internal signals such as changes in cervix would assist the medical professionals about existence of pregnancy. It also becomes good time to get medical advice related to nutrition and care towards healthy pregnancy. Often, many women are aware of their pregnancy and a doctor's visit is merely for confirmation.
Pregnancy would give you that bloated feeling, the sore and tender breasts, touch of nausea. Most of all, the absence of monthly periods would speak it up. In this case, pregnancy is the foremost thing coming to one's mind. Quite many methods would determine if the baby would appear in a few months time. One could always take a pregnancy test online, a home test or take an appointment with a doctor. Despite of various results from home and online tests; if positive, an appointment with your physician would confirm the results to get you started on healthy pregnancy.
Every woman who has children or have a suspicion that they are pregnant, perhaps use the home pregnancy test. Quite many jokes have been made about regarding peeing upon sticks at baby showers. Home tests are done by placing sticks in the urine stream or in containers holding urine. After minutes, results are visible on the test screens. Appearance of the line suggests positive pregnancy result. When there is no line, the possibility of pregnancy is very low. Such tests work by detecting the lack or presence of HCG, which is one common hormone mainly found in pregnancy.
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Pregnancy Back Pain
There are a couple of different theories as to why night back pain develops during pregnancy. One theory is that it is caused by muscle fatigue from being active all day. By the end of the day, your body becomes more fatigued, and thus you feel more discomfort toward the evening hours.
The second theory is that nocturnal back pain is due to water retention. This can lead to edema and an increased volume of blood. This additional water in the body can place pressure on the spinal nerves and muscles, resulting in backaches.
It is also important to make special efforts during the day to adjust your posture in ways that will help prevent muscle fatigue. Be sure to take frequent breaks from standing or sitting. If you must sit or stand for long periods of time, elevate one foot on a low stool or foot rest. Also, wear good, supportive shoes, and avoid wearing high heeled shoes, which place extra strain on the back.
It is also possible to manage pregnancy back pain at night by maintaining a regular exercise program. Regular exercise will help strengthen and support the spine, therefore helping to minimize strain and muscle fatigue. Exercise and postural adjustments will help to minimize night time back pain, but may not completely prevent it.
Many women find pain relief in alternative approaches such as acupuncture and massage therapy, though this relief may be only temporary. There are a variety of gentle hands on techniques that can be performed at home, which are also beneficial for relieving pregnancy related back pain.
Unfortunately, anti-inflammatory medications such as motrin, advil, and aspirin are contraindicated during pregnancy. The only pain reliever considered safe during pregnancy is acetaminophen.
Soaking in a hot tub or whirlpool is not recommended during pregnancy. You may however find a warm, not hot, bath can soothe your sore back. Try adding Epsom salt to a warm bath to help relieve pain.
Some women have very severe back pain while sleeping during their pregnancy. The most important thing you can do is to avoid sleeping on your back during pregnancy. Lying on your back, or in the supine position, compresses major arteries and veins, namely the inferior vena cava and the aorta. This decreases circulation and allows fluid pressure to build up in the pelvis, which places pressure on the spinal nerves.
As your fetus grows, it also puts more and more pressure on your arteries and veins. The farther along you are in your pregnancy, the more important it is to avoid sleeping on your back. The healthiest sleeping position for you and your baby is on your sides. Resting on your left side will place the least amount of pressure on your spine.
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Healthy With Pregnancy Exercise
Generally during the first trimester, women are permitted to continue with an exercise program that has already been established. This does not mean that now that you are pregnant you should start running every day if you haven't been running up until this point. Do not engage in new exercise - this is not the time. But if you are feeling well, are not experiencing any bleeding, and have been given approval from your doctor, it is safe to continue with your previous exercise routine. You may find, however, that as pregnancy exercise, this previously simple routine has become more difficult. Fatigue, upset stomach, and a myriad of other early pregnancy symptoms may hinder your physical performance.
Walking during the first trimester - and throughout pregnancy - can be a wonderful pregnancy exercise. It gets your heart pumping without putting unnecessary strain on your joints.
Pregnancy exercise at any fitness level is only meant for those women who are experiencing healthy, uneventful pregnancies. Further, regardless of what pregnancy exercise you want to try - at any time during your pregnancy - you should always check with your doctor beforehand. During the second trimester, when you begin to feel well again, your energy level may suddenly increase. With the blessing of your doctor, you may want to engage in more strenuous activity. Again, it completely depends on your level of health and the advice of your doctor. No matter what pregnancy exercise you do engage in, you should always pay close attention to your pulse rate to be sure you are not over-exerting yourself. Be sure to drink plenty of water - more than you may be accustomed to drinking - to protect yourself against dehydration.
The third trimester can continue as the second but an ever-expanding belly may prevent you from accomplishing some pregnancy exercise. Adjust your expectations as your situation continues to change and check in with your doctor every step of the way. Remember that has your due date nears you need to be vigilant to signs of labor. Use care with pregnancy exercise at this time.
Pregnancy and Skin Care
It is unfortunately very likely that you will suffer from some form of pregnancy skin problem but a good skin care routine with safe and tested products will help you keep your skin in the best condition that is possible.
During pregnancy the body goes through a lot of changes. One very common complaint during this time is of pregnancy skin problems. These changes are however normal and should not be termed as skin disorders. They are the marks of motherhood and are no risk to the mother or unborn baby.
Dry skin and pregnancy are another common combination that calls for extra moisturizing to get rid of the dryness and the accompanying itch. The moisturizing cream will help with the dry skin, however, you should seek your doctor's advice regarding anti-itch lotions which may be required to alleviate itchy skin during pregnancy. Most importantly, make sure you rest as much as possible as sleep restores the skin. While it is very important to maintain the skin care routine during pregnancy, expectant mothers must always ensure that the products being used will not harm the unborn baby. Pregnancies can be very stressful and this is mostly shown on the skin of the woman. She can have dark circles under the eyes, varicose veins, acne, brown patches on the skin and also loss of collagen and elastin.
While pregnant, be aware of the special needs and requirements of your body and skin. Special care should be taken of your condition. Listen to your body. One of the most common skin problems faced by expectant mothers is stretch marks. Most women worry about stretch marks, which become visible during the latter part of the pregnancy or after birth. Almost all expectant mothers have stretch marks which are mostly visible on the lower abdomen, hips, thighs, breasts and arms.
Using a water- based moisturizer will help pregnant women who suffer from greasy skin. As there is no treatment, it is best to keep the skin moisturized with cocoa butter as it helps minimize the development of stretch marks. It is advisable to perform the following skin care routines during pregnancy in order to avoid pregnancy skin problems: Cleanse your face twice daily in order to keep pores unclogged and to help with acne. However, regular acne medication should not be used during pregnancy. Do not use soaps, which will remove oils and make the skin even drier. Due to the sensitivity of the skin, use products labeled as being non-comedogenic. Don't forget your feet, which are often neglected, especially if you suffer from gestational diabetes. Don't forget to drink adequate amounts of water. Taking long baths should be avoided, as they will make dry skin even drier.
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