Second Trimester of Pregnancy

Second Trimester of Pregnancy

June 24th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Is it really possible? Are you feeling a bit better? Many women are cautious to express that they actually feel better as they enter that magical second trimester of pregnancy, but there is some merit to it.

Some women are lucky enough to feel great throughout their entire pregnancy. Others have a really rough first trimester and anxiously await that light at the end of the tunnel. Though the second trimester can bring about changes of its own, the reality is that can bring about some relief as well. If you have been suffering from common symptoms such as nausea for example, you may start to see that taper off.

Though every woman and every pregnancy is different, the second trimester is typically the most enjoyed time period for most. This is a welcome change and allows many women to enjoy their pregnancy! It is important to know what’s going on in your pregnancy, with your baby, and be aware of what is most common to expect during this precious time period.

Out With the Old and In With the New

So you can finally bid adieu to many of your first trimester symptoms. The reason that they came about was due in large part to the hormones that your body was inundated with. These hormones are all essential to a pregnancy and to your unborn child, so you should be happy for them. They are however nasty in the sense that they can create some unwanted and often awful symptoms. The most common first trimester symptoms often include nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, breast tenderness, and headaches. Most women can say goodbye to these symptoms as they enter the all important second trimester-and that’s welcome news!

What many people don’t tell you however is that you may accumulate some new symptoms. Though these all hit women differently and aren’t often that big of an issue, it is important to be prepared for them. Many women will have an increase in vaginal discharge, and they will also deal with a great deal of additional mucous as the membranes go into overdrive.

As you can see from a symptoms chart such as this http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pregnancy/pr00018 there can be new and interesting indications that the baby is coming in the not so distant future. You are likely at the point where you simply don’t fit into your old clothes anymore as your waistline is growing and changing. Your breasts are bigger and you may very well experience Braxton Hicks contractions which are a preview of what’s to come.

You will likely experience movement as the trimester progresses-this is an exciting step and a welcome “symptom” of the second trimester for many women. So though the first trimester symptoms are gone and you may feel more energized and less exhausted, you may have them replaced with newer ones that take some getting used to.

Your Baby’s Progress

Your baby is really starting to make some major progress in terms of their development, and this is exciting! They have reflexes now and they can even smile, frown, suck in amniotic fluid, and excrete it as urine. If you have an ultrasound during this time, you may even find baby sucking their thumb which is simply amazing! The baby has developed a great deal and they are starting to look like an actual baby at this point. Baby has his own fingerprints and has very distinct features, including genitalia which will tell you what the gender is if you wish to know. The baby will really start to bulk up and gain some weight as this trimester continues on, and you will feel this through your own weight gain and of course movement. It’s an exciting time and likely the best trimester, so enjoy every second of it!

Additional Reference:

http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/pregnancy/weeklypregcalendar/index2.php

Surviving the First Trimester of Pregnancy

Surviving the First Trimester of Pregnancy

June 23rd, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

You know that there’s something special going on inside of you the minute that you get the results of that pregnancy test. Though you may have gone several weeks without even knowing that you were pregnant, everything seems to change once you find out that you are. Your whole mindset may change, and you may have already been experiencing symptoms that you didn’t recognize as such.

Pregnancy is such a special time for a woman. The first trimester, however, can be not only a bit scary, but also full of all sorts of symptoms, emotions, and questions. If this is your first pregnancy, then you may feel like you are in completely unknown territory. Even if it’s not your first trimester, you may feel as though you are completely overwhelmed. You may feel like the symptoms are too much or you may feel as if you are in constant fear of a miscarriage. Whatever the case, you need to know what it takes to survive the first trimester of pregnancy.

Focus On and Take Care of Yourself

The first thing that comes as a bit of a surprise to many pregnant women is that they can’t necessarily get a doctor’s appointment right away. Though they may be itching to get in to see their doctor as soon as they take the pregnancy test, they may be diverted for a couple of weeks. Many doctors don’t even want to see a pregnant woman until she is around eight weeks pregnant. So while this may seem like an eternity, it’s a reality in many instances. If however you have any questions or concerns, you can always call in the meantime.

Many women are also surprised by just how quickly or intensely the symptoms may hit them. Some women skate through their first trimester without a care in the world, feeling great the whole time. Others may feel sick from the moment they find out that they are pregnant. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, tender breasts, and extreme fatigue are quite common in the first trimester. They can come out of nowhere and leave you feeling like you just got hit by a truck! This is a sign that the hormones are hard at work, and that your body is doing everything it needs to in order to provide for that little baby. The good news for many pregnant women is that these symptoms will subside in the second trimester, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Gaining Perspective on Things

Many women are concerned about the potential risk for miscarriage, and this can be a legitimate fear. If there is a history of miscarriage or if a woman has seen a friend or family member suffer through one, then it makes sense as to why they would be concerned. Though it is a real fear, it isn’t something that you should become obsessed with. All that you can do is take the very best care of yourself and your baby possible, and then leave the rest up to nature.

If you see any symptoms that are of concern such as bleeding or cramping, then call your doctor. However if you feel fine, then just keep going along and take good care of yourself. It’s always wise to get extra rest whenever possible, particularly in the first trimester. Don’t worry too much about what or how much you can eat, as that will even out as you enter the second trimester of pregnancy. Try to put perspective on things and know that there are better days ahead. In the meantime, enjoy the news of your pregnancy and know that taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for that baby.

Talking to Your Doctor Before Trying to Conceive

Talking to Your Doctor Before Trying to Conceive

June 22nd, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Some people are more diligent about going to see their doctors than others. They may be good about going for an annual physical. They may be the first in line to get any necessary immunizations. They may also find that they rush to the doctor when they are sick or need some sort of medical attention.

There are many reasons as to why we visit our doctors each year. When it comes to conception, however, many people don’t think about the necessity of talking to their doctor. Though it’s not always a necessity, it can really be wise. There are so many things to consider when we want to conceive, and therefore talking to our doctor can really help to get us focused on the right things. It doesn’t mean that you can’t or won’t get pregnant without first talking to your doctor. It does however help you to understand any possible risks, and most especially focus on what you need to in order to actually get pregnant.

Take the Mystery Out of the Equation

As there is just so much information out there, much of which is conflicting, it’s no wonder that it can be confusing to understand what it takes to get pregnant. On the surface, it all makes sense and we understand how it all works. However when you get down to it, there are a lot of factors that need to be in place to actually get pregnant.

It can be helpful to talk to your doctor about ovulation, timing, and all of the other factors involved in conception. If you have tried to get pregnant before or had any sort of issues in the past, this is a good time to talk to your doctor and get everything out on the table. Rather than suffering through the conception process not really knowing what you’re doing, talking to a doctor can really help to take the mystery out of the whole process. It sure beats taking advice from a friend that may or may not be correct or accurate!

It’s Important to Discuss Any Medical Issues

There are many different checklists out there that can help you to get prepared for your doctor’s appointment. Though you may not realize it, discussing issues such as family history and any medical conditions can be quite important to your chances of getting pregnant and enjoying a healthy pregnancy overall. You want to understand if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other health problems that can become an issue in your pregnancy. You also want to learn what you should do during the conception or even pre-conception phase. Taking prenatal vitamins in advance for example is always a good idea.

Your doctor will likely review your health, your family history, and your current state to understand what your whole picture of health is. They will want to present any possible risks to you. They will also want to make you aware of certain factors, such as what stress can do to the potential of getting pregnant. So while talking to your doctor isn’t a necessity before trying to get pregnant, it can be of great help to you and your partner. You can ensure that your health is where it needs to be, and that you know what to expect as you walk down the road to conception.

The Danger of Smoking During Pregnancy

The Danger of Smoking During Pregnancy

June 21st, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

We know that it’s a bad habit, but yet many of us pick it up somewhere along the way. There’s nothing cute or glamorous about smoking, but yet many women still can’t kick the habit. It may have been something that you picked up when you were much younger, and have inevitably become addicted to. It may be something that you turn to when you’re stressed or when you’re in a social situation.

The smoking pattern of everyone is quite different, but yet the results are the same. Though we hear it time and time again, we somehow ignore the warnings that smoking is bad for us. We know that there is long term potential risks and danger to our health, but we have such a difficult time in quitting. When it comes to pregnancy however, there has never been a greater reason to quit the bad habit. Though we know that smoking is bad enough for us, it takes things to an exponential high when it comes to smoking during pregnancy. Quitting smoking is what you should do for the baby, and there are many reasons why.

Consider the Risks to Your Pregnancy

Though common sense can tell you what you already know, smoking is inherently bad for you and your baby. If the risks to you alone weren’t enough to get you to quit before, consider what smoking can do to your baby and to your pregnancy. The risks as you can see on a chart like this are numerous and therefore this is something to stand up and take notice of.

During pregnancy, there are a great number of risks that can come about as a result of smoking. If you are worried about maintaining a healthy pregnancy, then smoking is the first thing to cut out. When you smoke, it cuts off oxygen and nutrients that your baby and your placenta need to thrive and survive. When this happens, your baby isn’t getting what it needs. Additionally the placenta will spread out in search of oxygen for the baby and this can lead to placenta previa. In this condition, the placenta can cover up the cervix and this is a huge danger. You contribute to the risks of an ectopic pregnancy, vaginal bleeding, and a displacement of the placenta. These are only the risks present to and during your pregnancy – it does get worse!

Consider the Risks to Your Baby

As if the risks to your pregnancy aren’t enough, consider the actual risks to your unborn child. When a woman is pregnant, she will usually put nothing before the health and safety of her baby. She lives for her baby and does whatever she can to nurture and care for her baby in the womb. When you smoke however, this nurturing isn’t exactly happening.

Smoking can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, and many of these unthinkable consequences of pregnancy which lead to the unthinkable with your baby. You are contributing to possible birth defects such as a cleft lip and may even cause actual breathing problems in your newborn once they are born. Down the road, smoking during pregnancy may even contribute to your child developing asthma. So you can see that the risks far outweigh the necessity to light up. If you ever needed a reason to quit smoking, let the health of your baby be the incentive that you needed.

The Old Wives’ Tale of How You Carry and the Gender of Your Baby

The Old Wives’ Tale of How You Carry and the Gender of Your Baby

June 20th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

If you are newly pregnant, then you will find that you are immediately met with all sorts of advice and information. Some of it may be helpful and some of it may be worth tuning out. As you progress through your pregnancy, you may be amazed to find out that the unsolicited and often unwanted advice continues. You want to be careful so as not to offend anybody that wishes to share their experiences or advice with you.

It can all get to be a bit overwhelming as you not only hear conflicting information, but also a lot that you know firsthand is wrong. One such instance is the old wives’ tale that seems to always rear its ugly head. There are people, particularly old timers, that truly believe some of these old myths that have traveled their way through time. If you have been told about any of them, such as how you carry your baby determining the gender of your baby, then it’s high time to stay tuned to the real meaning behind them.

Is It Really An Indication?

One of the biggest myths that have traveled through timeless pregnancies and number of years is that of how you carry your baby. If you have never heard of it, then you are likely to be hit up with it as you progress through your pregnancy. The old wives’ tale goes that if you are carrying your baby lower, then you are inevitably having a boy. If you are carrying your baby high, then you must be having a girl.

This may sound familiar and you will likely be told this myth at some point in your pregnancy if you haven’t already. It’s one of those myths that are so well traveled and so timeless that many people really and truly believe this. You may even find that you are told this by a nurse or a medical professional who should know better than to believe in these often silly myths. Go ahead and humor the storyteller by listening to their story, but avoid the temptation to buy into it and believe that it is real.

There is a Reason for Everything

If you look up any of these old wives’ tales including this one at a reputable source such as this, then you will quickly see that there is no real merit to this sort of myth. In fact you carrying high or low is simply an indication of the position of the baby and how your body responds to it. This has a lot to do with the placement and development of the uterine and pelvic muscles throughout pregnancy. This can be contributed to by your own build of your body before pregnancy, as well as how your body responds to the pregnancy along the way.

If you are carrying high, then that means that the baby is located in the upper part of the uterus. If you are carrying high, then it means that your baby is located closer to the pelvis. The only thing to be concerned with if you are carrying low is that if you happen to be carrying the baby too low, it can cause things such as premature labor. Though this isn’t a certainty, it is something to ask your healthcare provider about to ensure that proper tests are run. It doesn’t however determine the gender of your baby, so avoid the temptation to listen to such talk!

Trying to Get Pregnant with the Second Child

Trying to Get Pregnant with the Second Child

June 19th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

You’ve probably heard it all before. If you have tried to get pregnant and had a difficult time or taken a bit longer than expected, you’ve probably heard a bit of advice from everyone. You hear the old wives’ tales such as eating spicy foods. You hear the somewhat alternative medical advice such as to drink raspberry tea or to seek out acupuncture. You even hear from multiple sources to relax – and this can be the most frustrating of all the advice in the long run, even if it may be true.

The reality is that if you have suffered through fertility problems once, the notion of a second child can be a bit scary. Not because you don’t have enough love to embrace a second child, but rather because you may be scared of just how long the road can be to get pregnant with the second one. Many couples assume that when the time comes for them to be ready to start trying for a baby, it will just happen naturally. More and more couples are finding however that it’s not always that easy. Therefore many wonder what will happen when it comes to trying for baby number two.

It All Depends On Your Issues

When you think back upon what it took to get pregnant with your first child, you want to consider the lengths that you went to. You also want to think through what any possible fertility issues were and how they were handled. Was there something wrong with you? Was something amiss with your partner? If there was a truly legitimate fertility issue, then this can carry into your desire and ability to quickly conceive your second child.

If you could only become pregnant using methods such as injections, fertility drugs, or even something more extreme such as artificial insemination, then chances may be that this is the road you will have to travel again. The length of time it takes you to conceive each of your future children will rely heavily on what was required the first time around. If everything was just fine and it was just a fluke that it took so long, then you may have a very good shot at conceiving the “easy” way this time around. Talk to your doctor and be sure that you understand what you may be working up against, if anything.

Consider the Success Stories

Let’s say that it took you a couple of years to get pregnant with your first child, but there was really nothing wrong in terms of fertility problems. Many couples that go through such a scenario with their first child may find that conceiving the second child is much easier. Their bodies are a bit more relaxed and perhaps more primed for getting pregnant. They have other things to keep them busy and their first child gives them plenty to focus on.

Whether it’s an ability to relax, to focus on other things, or simply to get the equation right the first time, it happens much more easily the second time around for many couples. Again it all depends on you and your partner’s individual situation, but suffice it to say that if nothing was amiss that it may happen more easily than you had anticipated. When you know that you’re ready, just start trying or at least talk to your doctor beforehand if you think it will help. Take the pressure off of yourself and see if you can let nature take its course. Hopefully this time around will be a much easier and far shorter road to conception.

Weight Gain in First Trimester

Weight Gain in First Trimester

June 18th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

You’ll hear it a million times throughout your pregnancy, but it’s true. Everybody is different! Though it’s an old adage and you will likely get sick of hearing it, it does bear repeating. Many women feel that they have to be like their friends or family when it comes to their pregnancies. They may also feel that just because they’ve been pregnant before that they will know what it’s like and have full and set expectations the next time around.

Even with the exact same woman, one may find that each and every pregnancy is completely and totally different. One of the biggest ways that you notice the differences is how a woman gains her weight. Some women may seem to put on virtually no weight at all, losing it as soon as they give birth. Other women however may feel as though they put on a ton of weight at the beginning and continue to do so as the pregnancy progresses. It can be helpful to understand weight gain throughout each trimester.

Consider Your Pre-Baby Body Shape

Though many women stress out about gaining too much or too little weight during their pregnancy, it really depends heavily on the shape that a woman was in before she got pregnant. If she was bigger boned or even overweight, then chances are that she may not gain as much. It is actually recommended that those women who start out overweight don’t gain as much overall. A woman who is underweight however may gain a great deal of weight up front as her body prepares for the pregnancy.

As you can see by looking at this guidelines it is not only uncommon but actually recommended that an underweight woman gain up to six pounds in her first trimester. It may be even more than that depending on just how underweight she was to begin with. So while this may seem like a shock to the system or something that you should be concerned with, the weight gain will be different in every single case. It depends greatly on the shape your body was in before you got pregnant.

Pace Yourself But Let Your Body Dictate

Though one woman may panic because she’s gained eight pounds in her first trimester, another woman may hope for that type of response. Women who are sick throughout their entire first trimester may not gain any weight, and as a matter of fact may even lose weight. This isn’t uncommon but can worry some moms. The truth is that your body will catch up to where it needs to be in order to provide for your baby. If you’re concerned then you should always talk to your doctor. However in most cases, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. You should know that your body will dictate and that it will put the needs of your baby first.

Though the average suggested weight gain is around 25-35 pounds, it’s important to remember that is just the typical range. Every woman is different and though one woman may gain more in her first trimester, that will likely even out as she progresses through her pregnancy. The exact opposite situation can prove true too. So try hard not to compare yourself to others and know that your body will gain what it needs to for your baby. So long as you eat right and take good care of yourself, you are doing everything you need to for your baby and your pregnancy.

Taking the Stress Out of the Last Days of Your Pregnancy

Taking the Stress Out of the Last Days of Your Pregnancy

June 11th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Early on in your pregnancy you may feel as though you can’t wait for your due date to arrive. You are inundated with symptoms of all varieties, and you may feel as though nine months is an eternity away. You make it through your pregnancy, your series of doctor’s appointments, tests, and ultrasounds to arrive at the big day. You had such high hopes and anticipations for what it would be like to get to the end, and you initially feel excited.

Once the reality that your due date is near hits you, it’s likely that you are feeling a whole host of other things. Many women feel a great deal of stress as they approach the final days of their pregnancy. It’s not that they’re not excited to meet their little babies, it’s just that they know their lives are about to change. Additionally they may feel as if they aren’t quite ready for labor, and so it’s important to take the stress out of this final stage of pregnancy.

Getting Your Head on Straight at the End

The problem for most women is that they feel as though they have so much to do. They feel like they are grossly unprepared for the birth and arrival of their little baby. Though you’ve likely been planning for the birth for nine months now, it can still feel like it comes at you rather quickly. One of the most important things you can do to take the stress out of your final days of pregnancy is to relax. This means that you should try to get in all of the naps and restful nights of sleep that you possibly can. There is nothing wrong with putting your feet up and closing your eyes for a few minutes – as a matter of fact that may be a good recommendation. This can help you to get your head on straight and to decompress as your due date approaches.

Get Ready and Then Wait

The final few days of a pregnancy are almost a game of “hurry up and wait” so just be prepared for this. The best thing that you can do is to be prepared in every sense of the word. Take your preparation time very seriously and take your time with it. Avoid the temptation to pack everything in at the last minute, as the baby may arrive faster than you thought. Take your time along the way to get baby’s room ready for their arrival. Also be careful to get your overnight bag packed well in advance of your due date as this can always work to your advantage. There is no such thing as too prepared when it comes to your due date, and this really helps to take a lot of the stress out of your final days.

Once you have learned to embrace relaxation and done everything you possibly can to get prepared, then it’s time to sit back and wait for that little baby. Try not to let your mind wander and let all the bad or scary thoughts in. You will be just fine and you will give birth as millions of women have done before you. Doing your part in advance and learning to embrace relaxation can do wonders for your final days of pregnancy, and of course for your labor and delivery as well.

Understanding Gestational Diabetes In Your Pregnancy

Understanding Gestational Diabetes In Your Pregnancy

June 10th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Many women think of pregnancy as a time to eat whatever they want. Though you are sure to indulge in some foods or treats that you never did before you were pregnant, it should be done within reason.

Although the common misconception is that you are eating for two, this can often lead to complications down the road for both you and the baby. Many women tend to overeat, and at that they tend to eat a lot of the wrong foods. Though eating far too many sweets alone can’t put your baby in an instantly dangerous situation, it can present some difficulties. Just as diabetes can occur in the body at any point in time, you are more likely to develop it in pregnancy. Though most pregnant women are safe from this risk, there is a very real possibility and therefore you want to be very in tune to what this means.

What Is Gestational Diabetes?

Just about every pregnant woman takes a blood glucose test in her second trimester of pregnancy. This is a simple test whereby a woman drinks a sugary glucose drink to see how her body processes. If all goes well, then the woman is fine and should go on with her pregnancy without the risk of gestational diabetes. Sometimes however there is a very real risk and it shows up through this risk. What happens is that the body can’t properly create and utilize insulin and this puts a risk to the pregnancy and most especially to the baby.

As you can easily see through diabetes advice, the inability to produce sufficient amounts of insulin means that the glucose that you have in your system isn’t able to be digested properly and ultimately has nowhere to go. This glucose in your body can come to you via sweets or even some less likely sources such as white bread, pasta, and rice, as well as fruit. Therefore it’s important for a woman to get a proper diagnosis and then to know how to contend with it if it is found that she has gestational diabetes.

Handling This Pregnancy Complication

So here’s how it works-there is hope and help if you find that you have gestational diabetes during pregnancy. In a simple or lesser case, you may just be put on a special diet whereby you are eating foods that can be digested and passed along to baby properly. This is easy to manage, but may also result in additional monitoring for the baby. If the case is full fledged or a bit more extreme, then you may need to take insulin shots on a daily basis as a regular diabetic does. If this is the case, then it may mean a great deal of monitoring of the baby, particularly as you move closer to your due date.

The biggest possible risk to your baby is that they will be rather large, and that this may mean not only a “fat” baby but also one that has health problems upon delivery. These aren’t the usual birth defects that you hear about, but certainly something that doctors don’t like to see. It is manageable for you as a mother and for your baby, but something that is important to keep up with. So keep tuned into this condition and be sure that you handle the management appropriately if it should be necessary.

Uterine Contractions In The Third Trimester

Uterine Contractions In The Third Trimester

June 8th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There’s just so much to think about during pregnancy. You want to ensure that you are doing the very best to take care of your baby. You want to ensure that you are in good health and that you care for yourself in the proper way. There is so much to think about and just as you get used to one phase or symptom of pregnancy, an entirely different type comes about.

You may feel as though you know what you are doing, particularly if you are beyond your first pregnancy. However, there are so many things to think about and many elements of pregnancy that can literally take you off guard. One such thing that tends to cause a woman to lose her breath is uterine contractions. If you have never experienced these before, they can be a little intimidating. They can be scary as you prepare for the upcoming birth of your child. It is good to know though that these are not only common, but very normal.

So What Exactly is Going On?

You can be going about your business, not have a care in the world, when all of a sudden one of those uterine contractions may strike you. Some women will go an entire pregnancy without feeling them, and some will start experiencing them somewhere around the 20th week. As you can see here there are many different symptoms as you move about your pregnancy, and this is just one of them. If you feel uterine contractions, know that they are normal.

What usually happens at this point of the pregnancy is that the uterus contracts, but not in a painful way. Though contractions will be painful and rhythmic as you enter the final days before delivery, this is totally different. Uterine contractions, or Braxton Hicks contractions as they are called, are felt earlier on are often more of a tightening than anything else. They are shorter in nature, usually around 15 to 30 seconds, and then go away. There is often no rhythm nor rhyme or reason to these contractions because they come on and go away just as quickly. If there is any pain associated with them, it is often very minor as the focus is usually more on the tightening of the entire area.

Preparation for the Big Day

The uterus has gone through a lot to prepare your body for pregnancy. It has also grown exponentially to house your baby and ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. The uterine contractions felt are very normal as the uterus contracts along the way as a result of all of these changes. Consider this to be a bit of preparation for the big day, but in a much more minor way than you will consider.

Some women will feel these uterine contractions as early as the 20th week, and they may actually get used to them as they stay for the remainder of the pregnancy. As the due date nears and the baby prepares for birth, these Braxton Hicks contractions may come faster and furiously. You will know when it’s actual labor as there will be much more pain and regularity to them, but know that the Braxton Hicks contractions may very well stay with you up until the big day.

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