Your Pregnant Body

From the first sign of pregnancy to the last contraction, your pregnant body is changing and growing a baby. Do you just glow like all the books say? What about your belly? Is it big enough, small enough, round enough? How is your baby growing? Follow the pregnancy week by week pregnancy calendar to find out what is going on with your body and baby!

As soon as you find out that you are pregnant, it is vital that you call your health care practitioner to set up an appointment. Proper prenatal care will ensure that you optimize your chances of having a healthy baby. It is also very important to start taking a prenatal vitamin right away. Be sure to choose one made without artificial dyes and with the recommended amount of folic acid.

It’s very important to find the best care during your pregnancy. You need to find someone whom you trust; someone who will be there for you when you are in need. Choosing Your Practitioner will provide you with some valuable information about what to consider when you are trying to find someone for your prenatal care.

Nowadays, people have a choice between obstetricians, family practitioners and midwives as their health care providers when they are pregnant. We have a directory that will help you find a caregiver. Many women are rediscovering the wonderful experience of using a doula at their birth. To help you with your choice of caregiver, refer to the list in Questions to Ask your Prenatal Care Provider. Even if you are set on one type of care, it is important to read about all your options so you can be sure that you choose the best type of care for you.

If you are anxious about that first medical appointment, read Your First Medical Exam to get a better understanding of how it will be different from other medical exams. A standard feature of prenatal care from the eigth week of pregnancy on is checking the baby's heart beat. If you're particularly nervous about your pregancy, though, you may want to consider having a fetal heart monitor at home.

And if you are already looking forward to that wonderful day of birth, read Birthing Alternatives. Here you will learn about different ways of giving birth that can help you get the most out of the experience.

We hope this information will help you to decide what works best. A positive pregnancy experience and a wonderful childbirth often result from a respectful and trusting partnership with your practitioner.

Pregnancy Weight Gained Questioned

A recent study from Harvard indicated that packing on too many pregnancy pounds may lead to obesity in your baby in the first three years of life. The thing is, they found this to be true when women gained the recommended pregnancy weight gain sometimes. They advised that maybe we need to look at revising what we tell pregnant women about weight gain during pregnancy. Remember weight gain doesn't have to be the first sign of pregnancy!

The whole issue of obesity in kids is a huge issue, pardon the pun. I truly believe it is multifactorial. For instance, we also know that babies who are breastfed tend not to be obese, but that isn't enough to make everyone want to breastfeed. We also know that feeding kids junk food will make them obese, and yet parents still do it. My only fear is that we will see women restricting their pregnancy weight gain to the other end of the spectrum and experiencing preterm births and low birth weight, which is the number one killer of babies. So be sure to talk to your midwife or doctor about the right amount of weight gain for you and your baby.

Everyone has questions about this topic. Is it safe? What's the recommended position? Will it be uncomfortable? What about the baby?

Almost every couple finds that their sexual relationship changes during pregnancy; a woman's desire can fluctuate and she can feel uncomfortable with her body towards the end of her term. Feeling Sexy During Pregnancy will give you some tips on how to feel like the hot momma you are. Some women, however, find that their sex drive has gone through the roof!

But there are some special concerns that pregnant women deal with when it comes to sex. Sex During Pregnancy can help answer some questions you might have. Do you ever need to avoid sex when you’re pregnant? Is Sex Safe? answers that burning question. And don't forget to check out Sex Problems, which answers common sex and pregnancy questions.

Finding that the usual sex positions just aren't that comfortable as your belly grows? Then take a look at The Best Sex Positions During Pregnancy - you'll have a new favorite in no time!

And for those couples who are just embarking on their journey towards pregnancy, find out how you can make your conception sex sexy!

When you're pregnant, every part of your sex life changes, including your orgasm. Take a look at Female Orgasm to learn more about how your big 'O' might change for the better!

And what about sex after pregnancy? Find out when it's safe to start and how to get yourself in the mood!

Learn how best to cope with some of these issues. Just remember to try to communicate openly with your partner.

Eating Fish Good for Babies’ Brains

Researchers in the U.S. and the U.K. have conducted a study showing that mothers who consumed fish several times a week while pregnant give birth to babies that score higher on mental and social skills tests. To conduct the study, the scientists sent questionnaires periodically to 11,875 pregnant women who had due dates ranging from April 1991 to December 1992. The questionnaires contained questions regarding their diet during pregnancy and their children’s development up until 8 years of age. The findings contradict pervious ones warning against the possible effects of too much fish during pregnancy. Dr Joseph Hibbeln of the US National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, led the study: “For the baby's development, at the level of 12 ounces (equivalent to 3 servings) a week during pregnancy, the beneficial effects of the nutrients in fish far outweigh the risk.” The study did not, however, give any indication as to why fish would be so beneficial, although the researchers speculated it most likely has something to do with the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids that fish carries. Omega-3 fatty acids are also present in other foods such as hemp seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, kiwi fruit and eggs from chickens whose diet includes greens and insects.
Source: MedicalNewsToday.com

#1 Doctor Recommended Prenatal Multivitamin
VITAMINS

Beta-Carotene (a source of Vitamin A) 2500 IU Vitamin A (Vitamin A as acetate) 1000 IU Vitamin E (dl- tocopheryl acetate) 30 IU Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 85 mg Folic Acid (folate) 1 mg Vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate) 1.4 mg Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 1.4 mg Niacin (niacinamide) 18 mg Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) 1.9 mg Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 2.6 mcg Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) 400 IU Biotin 30 mcg Pantothenic Acid (calcium pantothenate) 6 mg MINERALS Calcium (calcium carbonate) 250 mg Magnesium (magnesium oxide) 50 mg Iodine (potassium iodide) 220 mcg Iron (ferrous fumarate) 27 mg Copper (cupric sulfate) 1 mg Zinc (zinc oxide) 7.5 mg Chromium (chromium chloride) 30 mcg Manganese (manganese sulfate) 2 mg Molybdenum (sodium molybdate) 50 mcg Selenium (sodium selenate) 30 mcg

Backache in pregnancy

Overview: Suggestions on how to avoid backache in pregnancy.



During pregnancy ligaments become softer and stretch to prepare you for labour. This can put a strain on the joints of your lower back and pelvis, which can cause backache. As the baby grows, the hollow in your lower back may increase and this may also cause backache.



To avoid backache:

avoid heavy lifting;

bend your knees and keep your back straight when lifting or picking something up from the floor;

if you do have to carry something heavy, hold it close to your body;

move your feet when turning round to avoid twisting your spine;

wear flat shoes as these allow your weight to be evenly distributed;

work at a surface high enough to prevent you stooping;

try to balance the weight between two baskets if you are carrying shopping;

sit with your back straight and well supported.

A firm mattress can help to prevent and relieve backache. If your mattress is too soft, a piece of hardboard under its length will make it firmer.



Massage can also help, or you might like to try a support corset, which can be prescribed by your doctor. Make sure you get enough rest, particularly later in pregnancy.



If your backache is very painful, ask your doctor to refer you to an obstetric physiotherapist at your hospital. He or she will be able to give you some advice and suggest some helpful exercises.



If during or after birth you have pain in the hips, groin, lower abdomen and inner thighs and have difficulty walking or climbing stairs you should inform your GP, midwife or hospital doctor. This may be due to a gap in a joint in the pelvic girdle, which gaps naturally during the birth to allow for the baby's head, not closing up. This condition is known as Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction (SPD). It affects very few women but early diagnosis and appropriate treatment will help to minimise the pain and avoid long term discomfort.

 

Constipation in pregnancy

Overview: Suggested ways to prevent constipation during pregnancy.



You may become constipated very early in pregnancy because of the hormonal changes going on in your body. It will help to:

make sure you include plenty of fibre in your diet through eating foods like wholemeal breads, wholegrain cereals, fruit and vegetables, and pulses such as beans and lentils

exercise regularly to keep your muscles toned up

make sure you drink plenty of water

avoid iron pills if they cause constipation. Ask your doctor whether you can manage without them or change to a different type; if not, you may have to accept having constipation

 

What causes bleeding in the late stages of pregnancy?
What causes bleeding in the late stages of pregnancy?
Bleeding is a sign that cannot be ignored. If a woman bleeds at any time during pregnancy she should tell her doctor or midwife straight away.

The bleeding can be caused by quite harmless changes in the cervix (neck of the womb) called an ectropion. This is the commonest cause of vaginal bleeding in the second half of pregnancy.

It can also be the type of bleeding that occurs immediately before labour and looks like bloody mucus (a 'show').

But bleeding in the late stages of pregnancy can also be caused by one of two potentially serious complications.

If the placenta, which nourishes the baby, is coming away from its attachment to the inside of the wall of the womb (a condition called placental abruption), bleeding will occur . Abdominal pains and a tense, sore uterus are other symptoms of this problem.

The bleeding may originate from a low placenta that is actually blocking the opening to the cervix (a condition known as placenta praevia).

What should a woman do if she starts bleeding in the late stages of pregnancy?
If bleeding starts suddenly, the woman should lie down and arrange to be taken to hospital immediately.

What will the doctors do?
The woman will be examined and looked after on the maternity ward. If she is close to the expected date of birth the doctors will decide whether it is best for her and the baby if the baby is delivered immediately.

If the placenta is breaking away, the doctor or midwife, will break the baby's waters and induce the labour.

If, on the other hand, the placenta is blocking the opening to the vagina, the mother will probably need delivery by Caesarean section.

If the symptoms are less severe or the expected date of birth is a long way off, doing nothing other than monitoring the mother and baby's condition may be more appropriate. This will enable the pregnancy to continue and allow the development of the baby to proceed further.

Bleeding should never be ignored. If in doubt please contact a doctor - or the maternity ward at your local hospital immediately. A woman bleeding in the late stages of pregnancy should never have a vaginal examination outside a hospital as such an examination may cause further brisk bleeding.

some pregnancy advice

How long is a normal pregnancy?

Usually, a pregnancy is 40 weeks in length, counting from the first day of your last menstrual cycle period. Pregnancy is broken down into three phases, which are called trimesters. The first trimester lasts 12 weeks, the second from 13 to 27 weeks and the third from 28 to 40 weeks.

Do I need tests?

Routine tests are offered to all women after their pregnancy has been confirmed by their doctor. These include blood tests to check for anaemia (lack of red blood cells), your blood type and any infections or blood disorders you may have now or had in the past. You are also offered a urine test to see if you have a kidney infection. Other special tests are available to women who may be at risk for an abnormal pregnancy.

Who will care for me during my pregnancy?

See your doctor as soon as you know or suspect you are pregnant. You can continue to see your doctor throughout your pregnancy or you can see a midwife. To increase your chances of having a healthy baby, you will be asked to visit the antenatal clinic on a regular, but flexible basis. The nurse or midwife checks your weight, urine and blood pressure at each visit, and you will also be examined by a doctor or midwife. Be sure to discuss any changes or questions you have with them.

What can I do about morning sickness?

Morning sickness is the nausea and vomiting you may have during pregnancy. Although called 'morning' sickness, it can happen throughout the day. Usually, it begins in early pregnancy and goes away by the fourth month. To relieve morning sickness, try to eat several, smaller meals and healthy snacks throughout the day. Beside your bed have a small snack that you can nibble before you get up in the morning. Avoid rich, fatty foods or cooking smells that bother you, and try to eat more carbohydrates like dry toast or a plain baked potato.