Moms

Planning Your Pregnancy

If you are planning to become pregnant, taking certain steps can help reduce risks to both you and your baby. Proper health before deciding to become pregnant is almost as important as maintaining a healthy body during pregnancy. This is because the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is very sensitive time. The risk of miscarriage is the greatest. In addition, all of the baby’s organs are developing, so the risk of birth defects is also the greatest. By the time most women realize that they are pregnant, this important time has already passed. By planning ahead, you can affect important factors in your lifestyle that can help prevent potential problems. Steps that you should take to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy and baby should include a pre-pregnancy exam, a smoking cessation program, a proper diet with vitamins, an exercise and weight management program, medical management of pre-exisiting conditions, a conscious effort to prevent birth defects, infection control, and staying away from harmful substances.

Trying to Conceive

There are 3 major methods of predicting your most fertile times, short of purchasing commercial ovulation predictor kits. These methods include charting your basal body temperature charting (BBT), observing your cervical fluid, and observing the position and properties of the cervix itself. Many women find that one or two of these methods are very accurate, while another is simply confusing and frustrating. It is not necessary to use all 3 methods. In fact it is far preferable to use only the methods that give you the clearest result, and leave the others alone to avoid confusion.

You may have other signs of ovulation as well. These may include mittelschmirtz (a pain on one side of the abdomen caused by the follicle rupturing and releasing the egg), breast tenderness, the condition of the skin, and increased sex drive.Some women will find these to be highly accurate indications of ovulation, while others will not experience them at all.

Menstruation

Menstruation refers to the periodic vaginal discharge of blood and bodily cells that are shed from the lining of a woman's uterus. Menstruation begins at puberty and marks the onset of a woman's capacity to bear children, although other health factors may limit this capacity. Menstruation usually begins between 10 and 16 years of age, depending on a variety of factors, including the young woman's general health, nutritional status, and body weight relative to height. Menstruation continues approximately once a month until a woman is about 45 to 50 years of age, again depending on health and other influences. The end of a woman's ability to menstruate is called menopause and it marks the completion of a woman's childbearing years. The average length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days, but ranges from 21 to 40 days. The length of the cycle may also vary for a woman during different phases of life, and even from one month to the next depending on a variety of factors, including the woman's physical, emotional, and nutritional health.

Menstruation is part of the regular process that prepares a woman's body each month for pregnancy. This cycle involves several phases that are controlled by the interactions of hormones secreted by the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary gland, and ovaries. During pre-ovulation, the cell lining of the uterus begins to develop and thicken. This lining will serve as the anchor for the developing fetus if the woman is impregnated. Hormones signal an ovum or egg in the ovary to begin developing. Soon, an ovum is released from the woman's ovary signalling ovulation and begins to move through the Fallopian tube toward the uterus. A woman's luteal phase follows, the period of time which directly follows ovulation. If the ovum is not fertilized by a sperm during the course of vaginal intercourse (or through artificial insemination), however, the lining of the uterus separates from the uterine wall and begins to decompose. The blood system washes the lining away and it and the blood are discharged through the woman's vadgina. The period of discharge or bleeding, known as the menstrual period (or just "period"), lasts from three to seven days. If a woman becomes pregnant, her monthly menstruation ceases for the duration of the pregnancy. Consequently, missing a menstrual period is a likely although not a definitive sign that a woman is pregnant. Pregnancy can be confirmed with a simple blood test.

Nonetheless, many women experience physical discomfort several days before their menstrual period. About half of all women suffer from dysmenorrhea, which is a painful menstruation. This is especially common during the early adult years. Symptoms of menstrual discomfort may include tenderness of the breasts, sore nipples, retaining fluid (bloating), and irritability. Some women experience quite intense discomfort, including cramps caused by contractions of the smooth muscles of the uterus, headaches, Mittelschmertz or pain in the midsection, nervousness, fatigue, stuffy nose, and crying spells. In its most severe form, often involving depression and anger, this condition is known as premenstrual syndrome or PMS, and may require medical attention.

Some women experience a condition known as amenorrhea, or failure to menstruate over a protracted period of time. This condition can be caused by various factors including stress, rapid weight loss, regular strenuous exercise, or illness. Conversely, some women experience excessive menstrual flow, a condition known as menorrhagia. Not only may the flow of blood be particularly heavy, but it may extend for a longer than normal period.

Birth Control

There are many types of contraceptive techniques in use today - none of which is totally ideal. Many concentrate on keeping sperm out of the uterus, like diaphragms and condoms which provide a physical barrier; spermicides or sponges provide a chemical barrier; Natural Family Planning (NFP) or withdrawl modifies the sexual act itself. Other techniques, generally much more effective, concentrate on interfering with the ovum. The oral contraceptive pill affects the ovum's development and release, an injection type such as depro-provera supresses ovulation or an implant such as Norplant also suppresses ovulation. Intrauterine devices (IUD) help to prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.

Early Signs of Pregnancy

Think you may be pregnant? If you haven't confirmed your suspicions with an HPT, you may present some of the following signs and symptoms that can tell you that you are expecting. But be wary, early pregnancy symptoms are very similiar to the symptoms you'll get prior to the onset of menstruation.

Nausea & Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting may come as early as a week into the pregnancy. Many women experience illness in the morning, some in the afternoon or evening, others feel feel nausea throughout the entire day. There is no explanation as to why pregnant women feel this or even a solution as to how to prevent it, although studies have linked this occurance to the increase of progesterone present during a pregnancy.

Breast Tenderness

Breasts may be very tender, swollen and start to enlarge. Many times the veins within the breast will become more visible. Your nipples may start to darken in color, become more erect and be extremely sensitive. These symptoms are due to increasing amount of HCG hormone that begins at implantation.

Appetite

As the fetus grows, so does your appetite. You may experience cravings for certain foods. But by contrast certain foods and smells may become repulsive for you. Fried foods is an example.

Frequent Urination

Pregnancy causes the uterus to swell and it will start to enlarge for the growing fetus immediately. The uterus puts pressure on your bladder making you feel the need for more frequent urination. Many women start to feel this symptom within a week or two after pregnancy has occurred.

Exhaustion

This one is pretty obvious. When pregnant your body is going through some major hormonal changes. HCG levels alone go from 0 - 250,000 mIU/ml in just twelve weeks. Your temperature is also higher due to the amount progesterone circulating through your body which will also make you feel a little sluggish.

Implantation Spotting

Spotting may occur approximately 8 - 10 days from ovulation. It usually happens around the same time you would have gotten your menstrual period. Some women assume they have started their period when in fact they are pregnant. The spotting is caused from implantation which is when the fertilized egg burrows into the endometrial lining. It is usually pink in nature and isn't enough to soak a pad.

Dizziness

When standing in one place you may feel dizzy or even faint. The growing uterus compresses major arteries in your legs which causes your blood pressure to drop making you extremely light headed. Skipping meals or going too long without eating may cause you to feel dizzy or faint. When not eating frequently enough it causes low blood sugar. Blood sugar is the primary source of food for your baby so it will be depleted much more quickly.

Constipation

Pregnancy hormones will slow down bowel functions to give maximum absorption time of vitamins and nutrients. Unfortunately, this symptom usually only gets worse as the pregnancy progresses.

Mood Swings

The altered hormone levels in pregnancy cause changes in emotional states. There seems to be a general pattern common for most women as to extreme changes in mood. Irritablility and crying a lot seem to be the most common.