Don’t be surprised if your other children are not as excited about your pregnancy as you are. Some children find it very exciting, while others might find it a little bit scary. They may worry that Mom won’t love them as much or have as much time for them when the new baby comes.
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Throughout the stages of pregnancy changes take place that are sometimes uncomfortable. Beside the usual symptoms of morning sickness that occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, the expectant mom may experience fatigue and an increase in urination. Vitamin supplements prescribed by the physician, adequate rest and a nutritious diet can help alleviate fatigue. The growing uterus exerts pressure on the bladder making the need for urination more frequent.
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Early pregnancy bleeding is surprisingly common, and it is always worrying. Therefore, care must be taken, as it may be dangerous to the life of the woman. There are many causes which are included in the following:
#1. Abnormalities of the cervix, such as erosion (ulceration), polyp (growth) and cancer of the cervix. In these conditions, there is a slight irregular bleeding with no pain. The woman should be referred to a doctor.
#2. Abortion – in this, the woman has abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding which may be mild or severe. If this occurs in the first two months of pregnancy and the symptoms are mild, advice the woman to stay in bed until three days after all bleeding has stopped. If bleeding stops, this was probably a threatened abortion and the fetus may go on to term. Advice the woman not to go on journeys nor to do any heavy work, and to avoid sexual intercourse until about the 24th week of pregnancy. If bleeding and abdominal pain get worse, the fetus cannot be saved. This is an inevitable abortion; if possible the woman should be taken to the health centre or hospital. If this is not possible give Ergot two tablets, watch the condition and what is passed from the vagina. If a woman having an abortion develops fever, this is likely to be a septic abortion and is dangerous. She should be taken to the health centre or hospital without delay. Antibiotics or triple sulphia should be started. Read the rest of this entry »
With so many different vitamins and minerals, it is difficult to keep up with the reasons why we need any particular one. Vitamin A is a vitamin that is vital for healthy living, and has many more benefits than you might realize.
Many people know that Vitamin A can maintain healthy vision and improve your eyesight. By keeping the retina healthy and keeping your eyes moist, Vitamin A can prevent many eyesight problems. Vitamin A is also very beneficial in maintaining your immune system. It promotes the maintenance of mucous membranes that protect nasal passages and skin from exposure to bacteria and viruses. These membranes also help maintain the digestive system. This vitamin also aids in healthy skin, hair and nails, and is often used to treat problems associated with these elements, including acne and scalp irritation. The benefits of Vitamin A in the skin tissues includes the healing of minor scrapes, cuts, and scars. Many studies show that Vitamin A can help prevent and treat certain types of cancer, and it may even improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Read the rest of this entry »
Once you have made the decision to try for a baby, chances are you don’t want it to take forever and would like to know how to get pregnant fast. Fortunately, there are a number of simple steps you can take which will maximize your chances and get you on the right track not only to conceive quickly, but healthily too.
Being outside the normal healthy weight range for your height (whether underweight or overweight) can have an adverse effect on ovulation, with both groups displaying disruption. Steps should therefore be taken to get within the healthy weight range. If you are overweight, even slightly reducing body fat can help and if underweight, just a little gain can trigger ovulation.
If both parties regularly drink, fertility can decline by around 50%. Alcohol is know to have an adverse effect on an early pregnancy so it makes complete sense to avoid it throughout pregnancy. It goes without saying that illegal drugs should be avoided. With regard to over the counter and prescription drugs, always mention to the pharmacist that you are trying to conceive and check that the drugs are safe. Less considered is the potential effect of caffeine. It is known that caffeine (as found in coffee, tea, chocolate and some fizzy drinks) can reduce the chances of conception so keep consumption to a minimum. Read the rest of this entry »
Trying to save for a new baby can be a challenge especially if all you can think about is buying new stuff. Pregnancy is a time for you to prepare even if we’re talking about financial aspects in here. There are steps you can take so you can save money during pregnancy.
1.If it’s your first time, you’re probably lost about everything that you and your baby need. Make a list of all the things you have to buy in advance by reading some blogs or joining in forums. Information is free over the internet and trust me, there is a load of valuable information out there. The most part in saving money while you’re pregnant boils down on how well you plan.
2.You don’t have to buy the most expensive crib or mittens for your baby unless your Jennifer Lopez. There are a plenty of affordable yet durable brands that will last you for years, you just have to figure out where you can find them. Go out there and start surveying stores. If you’re lucky, you will chance upon sales and huge discounts. You can also find great deals online like eBay and Amazon. Read the rest of this entry »
How much weight gain is appropriate during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). For a pre-pregnancy BMI of 18.5 to 25, the ideal weight gain should be somewhere between 25 and 35 pounds. An initial weight gain of 2 to 5 pounds is usually followed by a weekly gain of 1 pound in a normal pregnancy. If you have twins the gain usually falls between 35 and 45 pounds. Women who were overweight at the time of conception usually gain around 15 pounds and those who were underweight gain between 30 to 40 pounds. In case of obesity, your gain should not exceed fifteen pounds.
The most obvious impact of the weight gain can be seen in the form of pains and aches that you will have as your pregnancy progresses. A back ache is the most common complaint, followed by an awkward walk (thanks to your new found tummy). Another complain is of swollen legs, but that has nothing to with weight. It is a result of increased blood flow.
If you’ve had weight problems in the past or are generally finicky about your weight, you might find the gain hard to accept. But there is absolutely no reason to get agitated about the extra weight. In fact it is a sign of a healthy child growing inside you. You just need to pay attention to what you’re eating in terms of nutritional value. Also, you can track your weekly weight gain, and if you have any doubts in mind, you can consult your doctor. Tracking will also help adjust your diet according to the gain in order to get the best for your child. A stop on junk food and a start on some exercise will also help you along the way. Understand that eventually, all those extra pounds will wear off once you’ve delivered your little one. Read the rest of this entry »
Vaginal bleeding is rather common during the initial 12 weeks (first trimester) of pregnancy. While vaginal bleeding during this period does not necessarily mean a miscarriage but any sort of bleeding should be reported to the doctor as maximum miscarriages occur in the first trimester of pregnancy. About 50 percent pregnant women experiencing vaginal bleeding in this phase will not have a miscarriage.
If anything resembling foetal tissue is passed, it should be ensured that a doctor is consulted immediately. Miscarriage maybe considered a natural process which deals with abnormalities even though a miscarriage is not avoidable. It has never been proved if exercise and sex can cause miscarriage. As a matter of fact regular exercise ensures that when a woman finally goes into labour, the woman is at ease if the exercise is carried out continuously during the pregnancy. It should always be checked with your doctor before one takes on any exercise program.
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EMOTIONAL CHANGESPregnancy can be both unspeakably wonderful and incredibly challenging, and you have become used to handling these mixed emo tions. You may find the third trimester emotional changes different that the first and second in the following ways.
Some experience a natural high quite different anything you’ve ever felt, a combination of feeling special and proud, and wanting the whole world to recognize how important you are.
You may feel the need for alone time, a time away from the hustle and bustle of family life. This is normal. Use this time to center and ground yourself in your pregnancy.
Many women feel a renewed desire this month to tie up loose ends at work, organize the photo albums, clean out closets, or catch up on social obligations. Often the nesting instinct, the desire to wallpaper the nursery and scrub the house for the baby, kicks in this month, though others do not show this obsession with getting things in order until the eighth or ninth month. Although you have more energy than you have recently remember, “don’t overdo it”.
Keep in mind, your main concern is making sure you have the energy you need to take care of yourself and grow your baby. To do this, you will need to become good at delegating. You might as well begin delegating responsibilities to your mate now; in the first few weeks after the baby arrives, his help will be crucial to your survival. (Dr. Sears, www.askdrsears.com)
You may be attending childbirth education classes and reading a lot of different birth information at this time and you may be feeling overwhelmed. Be patient with yourself and go with the choices that feel the best for you and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Sunshine, not food, is where most of your vitamin D comes from. So even a healthy and well balanced diet, that provides all the other vitamins and nutrients, is unlikely to provide enough vitamin D. To get enough vitamin D you need to spend some time outside with some bare skin on most days during the summer months.
You make vitamin D under your skin when you are outside in daylight, which is the reason vitamin D is sometimes called the sunshine vitamin. By definition, a vitamin is a nutrient that we cannot make in our body. Vitamin D is actually a hormone rather than a vitamin. Very few foods contain vitamin D naturally.
Vitamin D makes sure you absorb enough calcium for your bones and teeth. Even if you have a calcium-rich diet, without enough vitamin D you cannot absorb calcium into the body. Its importance as a hormone is also being recognised. It helps maintain a healthy immune system and reduces the risk of some forms of cancer. Population studies suggest that lack of vitamin D may increase the risk of chronic health conditions such as multiple sclerosis.