Why A Healthy Diet Is So Important For Pregnant Women

Pregnancy is one of the most physically enduring times in our lives, and it is more important than ever to consume a healthy balanced diet. By ensuring a steady supply of vitamins and minerals, as well as balancing your calorie consumption appropriately between carbohydrates, proteins and fats, you should be able to maintain a healthy diet through pregnancy for a healthy mom, and a healthy baby. Eating healthily during pregnancy is clearly important for the health of your baby, but overall there is no secret formula. By living a healthy lifestyle as you normally would, you can guarantee that your baby is going to be given the best chance health-wise.

The first part of a balanced diet is to consume fruit and vegetables. Fruits are packed with vitamins, which are essential for healthy growth and development. By consuming a variety of different fruits, you can explore your tastes, as well as cover all the bases as far as vitamins are concerned. With vitamins playing such a major role in the healthy function of our bodies, it is imperative you ensure a suitable intake during pregnancy. Additionally, fruits and vegetables provide healthy calories, and are very filling as part of any meal, or for a snack in between. Also, pregnant women need to drastically increase their consumption of folic acid. Folic acid is a nutrient present in many grains and breakfast cereals, and is essential for promoting healthy growth in babies. By increasing your consumption of folic acid and related products, you can help give your baby the essential elements needed to sustain its growth over the longer term.

Another vital element for healthy living during pregnancy is water. Water is an essential component of any healthy diet, and is essential in ensuring you are fully hydrated wherever possible. This can be invaluable in ensuring the effective distribution of nutrients, and will

Pregnancy and lupus

It a very well known fact that the presence on lupus in a pregnant woman has a lot of risks. Still there have been countless cases on pregnant women suffering from systematic lupus that have not only given birth to babies but hey have given birth to normal healthy babies. There are of course exceptions where lupus pregnancies have ended up in miscarriage. It is always very important for women to undergo pregnancy counseling and planning before deciding to have a baby, especially in the cases of lupus pregnancy. Numbers in studies made have shown that it is best for the mother to be nor to have had any symptoms or medication regarding lupus for at least 6 month before remaining pregnant.

Because humans as individuals are so different one from another it is nor unlikely for some women to experience flare ups before or after birth, while others show no signs or symptoms what so ever. In the first case scenario women on drugs will most likely have high blood pressure, develop hyperglycemia or even diabetes or develop kidney problems. Constant care and good nutrition during pregnancy are really necessary if the baby is o be born healthy and without problems and if the mother is to remain safe and not develop any complications. The best of measures must be taken in order to be best prepared to handle any problems or complications. Studies of the cases of lupus pregnancies have shown that about a quarter of the babies of women with lupus are actually born prematurely but don't suffer from any defects or complications afterwards.

Scientist and doctors are doing their best to determine the causes that determine the apparition of the disease and how to best fight it and eventually defeat it. They are trying to answer problematic questions that people ask. Trying to best determines who exactly develops the disease and why is a serious problem for them. Again they are researching why women are more affected than men. On top of that certain women in minority ethnic groups have shown to have a predisposition to developing this disorder. A serious problem they are trying to find the answer to is why the immune system not only collapses but ends up attacking its own body.

In all they are trying their best in finding the best of treatments that can help us in curing this awful disease.

All about home pregnancy tests(part one)

Most of the women who think they are pregnant, but are not sure, use home pregnancy tests. But how many of them know how these tests work and if the result is true or not? Well, first of all a woman should know when the test must be taken and which are the best home pregnancy tests.

So, the first think to know is that these tests detect the pregnancy by measuring the presence of a hormone in the urine. The hormone is called chorionic gonadotropin, and is a telltale hormone. But how can this hormone tell you if you are pregnant or not? Well, this hormone is produced by the placenta. When the egg is fertilized and finds it' s place in the uterus, this hormone is released into the bloodstream.
This usually happens about six days after the egg has been fertilized. From that point the amount of this hormone in the body is doubled every two days. So in about fifteen days after the fertilization took place, the home pregnancy test should be able to indicate if your are pregnant or not. But it all depends on the test. It is said that most of them are not sensitive enough to detect a pregnancy even at that stage. For better and certain results
it is indicated you should take the test a week after your the day that you were expecting your period.

It was believed that home pregnancy test were very accurate, almost 100 percent, even taken the day when a woman misses her period. Later studies have shown that this belief was misleading. The amount of the telltale hormone in the urine can differ from a woman to another very much. It can be different in any given days after the implantation had taken place. Studies have been made on different groups of women, and reaschers discovered that the home pregnancy tests are not sensitive enough to detect a pregnancy
in the first day that the woman missed her period. It worked for almost 15 % of the tested woman. But the the same home pregnancy tests showed to be very precise when taken seven days after the menstrual period was expected.

Of course when reading this, one would wonder why these tests claim to be so accurate, if they are not? Well the fact is that the ninetynine percent accuracy that this tests pretend to be is because the sensibility of the tests can detect a pregnancy, but not in it's first days or in the first day of the missed period. The home pregnancy tests can determine a pregnancy, but it matters when this test is taken. To find out how to choose a pregnancy test and use it, be sure to read part two.

Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Study - 2007 Report

New Study Documents Success of Tubal Ligation Reversal

Many people, including doctors, mistakenly believe that tubal ligation surgery is permanent. A one hour outpatient operation, however, can rejoin the separated segments of fallopian tube so that pregnancy can occur again. Results of a 6 year study of 3,139 women who had tubal reversal surgery show that 69% of the women became pregnant during the study interval (2001-2006). This is the largest and most definitive study in existence providing information on the outcome of tubal ligation reversal.

The recently published Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Study Report 2007 shows that pregnancy rates after surgery ranged from 82% for women under 30 to 41% for women 40 years of age and older. The highest pregnancy rate (87%) was reported by women age 29 or less who underwent reversal of a previous ring or clip method of sterilization.

Tubal segment length measurements were taken during the reversal operations. Women with tubal lengths of 7.5 cm or longer had a pregnancy rate of 80%. The pregnancy rate declined as tubal length decreased, but even women with the shortest tubes (less than 2.5 cm) became pregnant (38%). Although previously unreported in the medical literature, it was discovered during this study that a repaired fallopian tube of any length can result in pregnancy.

One conclusion from this study was that for women who have undergone a tubal ligation procedure and decide later they would like to have more children, tubal reversal surgery is a better option than the alternative treatment of in vitro fertilization (IVF). "The results are clear � across all ages of women included, tubal reversal surgery led to higher numbers of pregnancies and live births than standard IVF procedures. Besides having higher success rates, the one-hour outpatient procedure is less than half the cost of an IVF cycle." said the study's author, Dr. Gary Berger.

The three stages of pregnancy

The normal pregnancy period lasts nine months. These nine months are separated into three trimesters. This classification is a way of dividing the 40 weeks into separate stages when the mother and the child are encountering different types of pregnancy events.

The first trimester is considered to be the first period that last 12 weeks of gestation or 14 weeks from the first of the last normal menstrual period. The symptoms that occur during this period affect only the mothers and consist of dreaded morning sickness that can occur during the day as well and sore and enlarged breasts. During this period several changes may occur. The future mothers may notice blue lines under the skin of their breasts and abdomen or waistline expansions. Other regular symptoms that occur in most women are nausea or even vomiting, food aversions and cravings, tender breasts, constipation, headaches or dizziness.

If the future mother gives up alcohol, smoking or dangerous drugs it may be said that it was a healthy trimester. The child needs a normal development especially in this period because inside the woman's body the major organs and systems of the fetus are forming. In this first trimester the most important changes occur in both mother's and child's body. By the end of this trimester the embryo is transformed into a fetus that is measuring, on average, three to four inches.

The second stage or the second trimester lasts until the end of month seven and it is considered as being the easiest stage of pregnancy. During this stage most women get to recover their lost energy.

Physical changes occur in this second stage. Both mother and fetus continue to grow and the mother's abdomen begins to swell. At the end of this faze the uterus is near the rib cage. The skin on and around the abdomen stretches and marks may be seen.

Even if in many cases this is the easiest stage of pregnancy for some women this stage may bring nasal congestions or occasional nose bleeds. It may also mean whitish vaginal discharge, constipation, an increased appetite or cramps. The fetus continues to grow and organs such as the heart or kidneys develop. The eyebrows, fingernails and even hair begin to form. During this period the fetus moves or even kicks.

The last trimester means the preparation for delivery. The fetus grows in weight and size and his internal organs are forming a body system. This period is very uncomfortable for mother because labor contractions occur more and more often announcing the delivery.

Stages during pregnancy

During pregnancy a woman's body suffers many changes. From the conception to birth her body undertakes the processes of fertilization, implantation and growth of the baby or sometimes even babies. The child is growing in her body getting to develop in there for the next nine months after the conception. These 40 weeks of pregnancy may lead to new physical sensations for each woman. It is known that each woman body reacts different to each individual pregnancy whether it is the first, the second, third or more pregnancy.

The first trimester of pregnancy that it is considered to be the first 12 weeks leads to a woman's body changes. These changes consist of providing a nurturing and protective environment for the baby to grow and develop. Depending on each case these changes can be subtle or can be pretty obvious. Many women do not realize they are pregnant until their menstrual period gets a few weeks overdue. Some of the women just know they are pregnant before missing a period because they feel strange and suspect something is different or in change.

Sometimes the first signs of pregnancy make a woman feel confused. This thing is realized because of the first symptoms in pregnancy that are similar to the pre-menstrual symptoms such as swollen breasts, feeling tired or possible cramping or pelvic discomfort.

There are known cases of women that will not have periods until their baby is partially or fully weaned of the breast, perhaps 6 to 12 months and sometimes even more. Even so it is possible for a woman to be fertile in about 8 weeks after giving birth. So breastfeeding, as a form of contraception tends to be reliable for about 30 % of the women, especially after the child is 3 to 4 months old. A subsequent baby could mean for a mother a very exhausting period and more then that a greater sensitivity for the nipples, especially when the child lathes and suckles at the breasts. These women are also prone to feel nauseated or sick especially in the mornings. Their milk begins to taste more salted then before which may cause a refusal of breastfeeding from the child.

It is a normal fact for women to ask questions about pregnancy. They usually feel unsecure and wonder what is normal during pregnancy. They concern about their health even if they experience the typical pregnancy problems or not. In some cases women do not realize that they are pregnant before a pregnancy test because the changes night not be always so obvious.

Are Vitamin Supplements for Your Pregnant Dog Necessary?

Are vitamin and mineral supplements that necessary for your pregnant dog? Yes. Besides a balanced and healthy diet, pregnant dogs that are into their fourth week of pregnancy need more vitamins and minerals in their system. Also, a balanced di-calcium phosphate may be needed to be added into their diet as well.

"Where should I purchase these dog supplements?"

Di-calcium phosphate tablets and vitamin/mineral supplements can be obtained from most veterinarians or animal hospitals, and even some grocery stores. Health food stores are common to carry these types of animal supplements as well, so you should not have too many problems trying to locate some for your dog.

"What forms do these prenatal supplements come in?"

Just like what is supplied for humans, vitamins and minerals for prenatal dogs are sold in both powder and tablet forms. A lot of dog owners get bothered over choosing the right kind of supplements for their dogs, but it is an individual choice for you and your dog. Regardless if its form, the quality of both types of supplements is the same.

"How do I know what dosage of supplement to administer to my pregnant dog?"

You will find the correct supplement for your dog by looking at the labels of the supplements. The correct supplement for your pregnant dog will be stated clearly, and there are supplements for matrons as well as puppies. It is very important that you realize that prenatal dog supplements have gone through lab testing before they are approved to be marketed and sold in stores. There will also be specific instructions on the labels on how to give the supplements to your dog regarding the dosages or stages of pregnancy.

Your dog may not be used to swallowing tablets, or the tablet may be too big for a dog its size. What you can do is crush the tablet up into powder form and then putting it into your dog's food for it to consume. If your dog has no problems with swallowing tablets, like my Chihuahua for instance, who swallows tablets easily when I place it at the back of his throat, you may want to choose that. But powder form supplements is also a good choice if that is what your dog is better at ingesting.

Problems with bleeding in the late stages of pregnancy

As we know the last stages of pregnancy include the labor that is classified into three different stages. The first stage consists of the onset of the contractions and the dilation of cervix. If the cervix dilates the contractions begin to occur more often and more painful. At the end of this stage the cervix gets to dilate up to 10 centimeters. This last phase of this stage is called transition.

The second stage is also known as the pushing stage. After the total dilation of the cervix this stage begins. It lasts up to 30 minutes and it is not recommended for any women to get to this stage before being totally dilated. The advice is to resist any urge to push until their cervix is fully dilated.

The final stage of the labor begins after the birth of the baby and resumes at delivering the placenta. This does not involve too much time or painful contractions. Usually the first contraction separates the uterus from the placenta.

During these phases a woman might develop unwanted but painful symptoms such as periodic cramps, contractions, backache or small bloodstained discharge.

Many women ask about the causes of bleeding in the last stages of pregnancy. Specialists believe that bleeding is a sign that should not be ignored and the affected women should see a doctor immediately.

One of the most common facts that lead to bleeding in the second half of the pregnancy is the changes in the cervix. Bleeding might also occur right before labor.

Beside these two possibilities bleeding might be the cause of two serious complications. First of these complications might lead to bleeding if the placenta moves from its attachment to the inside of the wall of the womb. Besides bleeding, this complication may lead to other symptoms such as abdominal pains or sore uterus.

The second possible complication that may lead to bleeding in the last period of pregnancy might come from a low placenta that is blocking the opening to the cervix.

In cases when bleeding occurs suddenly the best advice for the women is to lie down for a while and afterwards to get ready for a hospital visit. There the woman will be examined. If the doctors decide this way and if the women's period of pregnancy is getting to an end an immediate delivery will follow. If the placenta is breaking away the doctor will break the water and induce the labor. If the placenta is blocking the opening to the cervix a Caesarean section delivery is necessary.

Supplements For Pregnant Dogs

It is imperative that you give your dog the best for its diet while it is pregnant and maintaining the supplements even after it is whelping. There is an assumption in dog owners that you should not ad vitamins or minerals to a dog unless it is sick or pregnant. That is not true. Your dog should always be supplied with nutrients for good health.

You should provide your pregnant dog with the sufficient supplements for its pregnancy. Being pregnant it should be receiving as much nutrition as its body needs to stay healthy. Why should you start preparing your dog for this nutrition even before it is pregnant? Dogs usually do not show signs if being pregnant until the pregnancy is about 5 weeks or so. By starting it on supplements a standard practice, you would be making sure that your pet is receiving enough nutrients while it is pregnant, although you do not realize that yet. During these 4-5 weeks, the nutrients will provide good nutrition to the unborn pups.

Adding vitamins and minerals your dog is missing from her hunger fasts may help maintain its health, although you should not resort to replacing its meals with pills and powders. There are times where she will refuse to eat, and you can give her something that she will look forward to such as treats and mix the supplementation powder into it to ensure she remains healthy.

Although this may seem like a strange idea, you should consider feeding your dogs raspberry leaves. It seemed like a new supplement idea, but this is actually an old practice some successful dog breeders use. They will chop up the leaves and put it into their food for them to eat.

You might wonder at the effects of raspberry leaves. It is said that the leaves will help your dog with the contractions for delivery, and it enables it to keep up with the amount of contractions. If may not be 100% proven that it truly helps your dog, but there is no harm adding it to her diet. Raspberry leaves are available at most health food stores.

The fact of bleeding in pregnant women

As well as felling joyfulness and happiness because the baby is coming , women can also feel troubled some times. Risks do exist and problems do occur. The most scary fact in pregnant women is the bleeding that some of them might experience at some point of the pregnancy. Normal thinking tells them that bleeding during pregnancy is not a normal or good sign.

It is quite natural that some women may experience some bleeding or spotting during the first trimester of their pregnancy. The phenomenon is actually not that rare in women, this way some 10 % of them will at some point develop them. Still the fact is that this bleeding is not at all like the periods they normally have when ovulating.

From the biological point of view menstruating during pregnancy is not possible because the brain is sending the uterus different instructions than in the time of periods. The uterus prepares now for the development of the baby so certain things change in the actions that it has. It is quite normal for women to experience little bleeding at the start of the pregnancy, but if bleeding still occurs later on in the pregnancy mostly in the last trimester doctors should be checked with right away.

The actual bleeding that happens to women in the early stages of pregnancy is not at all due to periods, but to whole other reasons. The first bleeding that may occur to women who become pregnant is the actual implantation bleeding, and this happens when the fertilized egg implants its self in the wall of the uterus and prepares its self to develop and grow into a child. The lining of the uterus may this way be harmed and this is the actual cause of bleeding. The duration of the bleeding is actually very brieff and so is the intensity. Still, if the bleeding continues for more than 5 days a doctor should be seen immediately.

In the case of late pregnancy bleeding causes may be very different as well, being not the case of period bleeding. Preterm labor is most often the cause of these late bleedings. The doctors should be immediately seen if the bleeding occurs along side contractions or cramps. How ever unlikely the fact would be it still possible to suffer from a miscarriage of the child to be born dead. Infection in the cervix is the most common factor that determines bleeding to appear in women who are pregnant in their last trimesters.

Dieting while pregnant

Dieting is very important for ones health and well being. It is even more important in the case of pregnant women; not only for the fact is that is important for the health of the mother but also very important for the health of the un borne child. The fact is that the mothers have to actually provide for 2 now: both herself and the child. She must consider that she must have the intake of vitamins and calories to sustain her and a growing child in her womb. Many women can now use the Pregnancy Nutrition to get the required info so that she can get the proper amount of nutrients during the day. There are foods that women are required to eat in order to get the right stuff and also there are foods that women must stay away because the case of food poisoning exists or the risk that certain chemical in the foods may affect the well being of the child.

Tests and researches done on pregnant women and the foods that they were eating have revealed that certain vitamins and minerals are required to be eaten in bigger quantities and more often than others. Folic acid has been shown to be the most important part of ones diet in order for the baby to develop at the best level. Omega 3 foods are next in line in importance. As said before there are some foods or chemicals that must be avoided at any cost like PCBs and mercury.

Starting the diet before the women remains pregnant is also a very important thing to keep in mind. Prenatal vitamins have been shown to be very good in keeping the woman and both the child healthy through out the 9 month period that it takes for the baby to develop. Some other supplements also ensure that the women gets the right nutrients from foods, especially in the correct quantities. Omega 3 and fatty acids have been shown to greatly improve the development of the baby' s brain and eyes while he is still in the mother's womb, so a woman is advised to eat lots of these substances.

A very good diet would also include herbal supplements that helps people and benefits their health a lot. Still one should always plan ahead and get the right information when it comes to any kind of food or supplement and the reaction it may have on both the mother and the baby.

A lot of clinic and support groups are now available for women to see and get the right help and advices. Weight gain is probably the most worrying in the cases of women so seeing one of these special clinics can help you with the planning of your diet so that both the woman and the baby benefit from it.

Pretty and Pregnant

Unexpected guests can add a frustrating glitch to any wedding, but what if the bride and extra individual are sharing the same seat? Back in the dark ages, expectant brides hid their pregnancies and opted for small civil ceremonies so as not to "reveal their condition." Shed some light on your wedding planning - today, guests don't even raise an eyebrow over pregnant brides and bridal boutiques are catering to blossoming figures. On your wedding day, there's no reason why both you and your bump can't look stunning and stylish.

Timing is everything
Every body and every pregnancy is different. Some moms start showing a bump only a month or two into the pregnancy, others just thicken around the waist until month four or five. If you'll only be in the first trimester of your pregnancy on your wedding date, there's a good chance you'll be fine in a standard wedding dress. If you'll be into your second or third trimester come aisle time, a maternity bridal gown might be in order. For your child's sake and your own, don't try to flatten your bump or define your waist with body shaping garments. It's uncomfortable and unhealthy to try and squeeze your pregnant body into another shape.

Many brides are, shall we say, surprised when they find out they're pregnant. Since bridal gowns can take months to create, you may already own a gown when you realize you'll be seven months pregnant at the wedding. Some brides will opt to postpone the wedding until after the birth, others are happy to celebrate a new life and new marriage at the same time.

Gown go-round
If you've already bought a gown that won't fit your wedding day bump, you have a few options. You can ask the designer to add extra panels at the front of the dress to accommodate your tummy or you can buy a new gown all together. Your boutique may have made you sign a contract agreeing you'll purchase the gown regardless of pregnancy or weight gain. If so, you'll get your dream dress after all � you just won't fit into it. If you choose to buy a new dress, try to recoup some of your losses by selling the original gown on eBay. Be sure to include the good news explanation of why you're selling the dress - some bidders are hesitant about buying dresses from cancelled engagements or divorced women. Your good news will help calm shy bidders.

Style wise
You've got your dream dress and you don't want to give it up for anything. The option to sew additional panels of fabric into the front of the dress definitely exists, but don't forget that your bust line and back will also grow with your pregnancy. Depending on how far along you'll be at the wedding, you might have to let the dress out too much for it to still look lovely.

Most bridal boutiques offer a few selections for pregnant brides, but the designs might not fit your tastes. If you're looking for a standard wedding gown, opt for designs with loose, flowing skirts and an empire waist line. The empire waist sits just below your bust offering much more accommodation for your growing bump. It's also a very classic, Shakespearean look that's popular for any bride!

Maternity gowns come in all different styles from sexy and stunning to classically chic. Most maternity gowns use loose, layered skirts to make room for baby, but others offer form fitting lines that flaunt your new found curves. On average, the most you'll gain in measurements is an additional 1.5" per month on your waist, bust and hips. For example, if your wedding will be three months from when you order your gown, you can expect your measurements to increase by 4.5" each. When you order your gown, keep these measurements in mind and remember that it's easier to take a dress in than it is to let it out. If you want to enhance your silhouette, look for designs that offer tabs that tie at the back. This will allow you to make wedding day adjustments to how your gown fits.

And one last note: let's forget this nonsense that a pregnant bride can't wear white. White isn't just a symbol of virginal innocence. White means fresh beginnings, new life and purity. A pregnant bride is just as entitled to a white gown as anyone else.

Shoe sense
Weddings call for a lot of time on your feet, so you'll want to be comfortable. Opt for low heels or flats to give you extra stability. Swollen feet are one of those cute little side effects of pregnancy, like morning sickness and stretch marks. Combat foot fatigue by purchasing two pairs of wedding shoes, one half a size larger for later in the day when your feet get fat. A pair of ballet slippers will give your feet a comfy break when the dancing gets started.

Pregnant women have a natural glow about them that makes them beautiful no matter what they're wearing. On your wedding day you should look as beautiful as you feel. Shop for dresses that you'll feel comfortable in. The happier you are, the more perfect your day will be.

The relationship between women affected with lupus and pregnancy

It is known that lupus affects a lot of young women, and for a long time, it was thought that if these women remain pregnant, they must have therapeutic abortions. Nowadays, it is known that the conclusion was wrong. Studies showed that 50% of all lupus pregnancies are completely normal, 25% deliver normal babies prematurely, and there is a percentage of 25 which represents fetal loss due to spontaneous abortion or death of the baby.

However, lupus pregnancies are not easy, and they may be considered 'high-risk'. Pregnant lupus patients should be supervised by obstetricians who are familiar with high risk pregnancies and there should be a collaboration with woman's primary physician.It is important that the delivery to be planned to a hospital that has a unit specialized in the care of premature newborns.

Despite the older texts that said lupus flares are common in pregnancy, studies discovered that is not true, and eventually can happen very rare.In stead, about 6-15 % of lupus patients will experience an improvement in lupus symptoms during pregnancy. It is known that flares can appear during the first or second trimester, or during the two months immediately after delivery.Arthritis, rashes and fatigue are symptoms that these flares show. It was shown that 33% of the lupus patients will have a decrease in platelet count during pregnancy, and about 20% will have an increase in or new occurrence of protein in the urine.It is known that lupus nephritis before conception increases the chance of experiencing a lupus flare during pregnancy.

During pregnancy fluid may accumulate in the joints, especially in the knees, and that will cause swelling. This may suggest an increase in inflammation due to lupus, but it also can be a normal thing during pregnancy. Many patients can experience new hair growth during pregnancy, and after delivery dramatic hair loss appears. This can be a symptom of lupus, but it can also happen to occur during a normal pregnancy.An important thing that must be done is to distinguish the symptoms of a lupus flare from the normal body changes that occur during pregnancy.

A lot of women wonder when is the best time to get pregnant. It is important that a woman who wants to become pregnant to be in good health, in this way her baby will have less problems, and there will be less concerns. It is important to follow some rules, for example to stop drinking or smoking, to eat well, to take medications as prescribed and to visit your doctor regularly.

Frequent visits to the doctor are important, because in high risk pregnancies can appear a lot of situations, and treating them is easier if they are found early.In 20% of lupus patients can appear the toxemia of pregnancy. This consists in a sudden increase in blood pressure, protein in the urine, or both during pregnancy.It appears more often in women with kidney disease, in black women, in women with twins, in older women, in women with high blood pressure, and in women who smoke.Toxemia is a serious condition, and must be treated at once. In this case there should be no danger for the woman, but there is a high risk that the baby will die if it is not rapidly delivered. If toxemia is not treated, the woman and the baby are in danger.It is also important as pregnancy progresses that the doctor to check the baby's growth with sonograms, and the heart beat, because if there are found abnormalities, means that there is a problem that must be treated.

During pregnancy, it is important to take only the necessary medications. It is known that most of the medications taken by lupus patients are safe to use during pregnancy.Some medications do not get through the placenta and are safe for the baby, and we can mention here prednisone, prednisolone and probably methylprednisolone.Other medications like dexamethasone and betamethasone reach the baby and they are used only if it is necessary to treat the baby too.It is also known that aspirin is safe, azathioprine and hydroxychloroquine seem to be harmless for the babies, but this is not quite sure, but Cyclophosphamide is surely harmful if taken in the first three months of pregnancy.

There are opinions that pregnant women with lupus should take small doses of prednisone to prevent early abortion, and steroids should be given after the baby is born to prevent post partum flare, but there aren't proofs that these are necessary.

It was shown that 33% of lupus patients have antibodies that interfere with the function of the placenta. This antibodies are known as the antiphospholipid antibodies, the lupus anticoagulant, or anti-cardiolipin antibodies. These antibodies may cause blood clots in the placenta, and that does not allow the placenta to grow and function normally. In this way, the baby grows slowly, because the placenta is the passage way for nourishment from the mother to the baby. Prednisone, heparin, aspirin and plasmapheresis have been suggested as possible therapies, but the treatment is still being tested.

Studies revealed that about 50% of lupus pregnancies end premature, because of the complications that can appear. Premature babies may become anemic, may have difficulty breathing and may develop jaundice. In modern neonatal units, these problems can be easily treated, and even babies which had very little weight survived.

Anti-Ro or anti-SSA is an antibody that can be found in about 33% of lupus patients. It was discovered that about 10% of women with anti-Ro antibodies will have a baby with a syndrome known as neonatal lupus. A transient rash, transient blood count abnormalities, and a special type of heart beat abnormality is specific to neonatal lupus. The heart beat abnormality is rare, and treatable, and for babies with neonatal lupus who do not have the heart problem, there is no trace of the disease by 3-6 months of age, and it does not recur. It is known that neonatal lupus is the only type of congenital abnormality found in children of mothers with lupus. There is a 25% probability that if a mother had a child with neonatal lupus, she will have another one with the same problem.

There are situation when Caesarian section is needed. This must be done when the baby shows signs of stress, it is very premature, the mother of the baby has low platelets, or is very ill. This may be the safest and fastest method in these cases, and it is good to know that the decision about type of delivery is not made in advance, because it will be determined by the specific circumstances at the time of delivery.

It is known that breast feeding is possible for lupus patients, but if the baby is born very prematurely, he is not strong enough to suckle, and so, cannot draw the milk. But, if the mother wishes so, the milk can be pumped from the breast to feed the premature baby. If you take medications, it is important to ask your doctor if you are allowed to breast feed.

It is important to remember that as a lupus patient, you will have future periods of illness, and it is important to have plans in advance for alternate child care if it is necessary.

Pregnancy and hepatitis B

There is a big question raised when thinking about hepatitis B: can infants risk to loose their immunoprophylaxis if breast feed by mothers that carry the hepatitis B virus? This is one of the most often asked question when new mothers with hepatitis B have children.

Well the answer is no. There is no risk for a mother with hepatitis B to breast feed his child. The infant will not suffer from any negative influences when the response of the anti hepatitis B is concerned. Many tests have been made concerning mothers that have hepatitis B virus and have to breast feed their new- born.
All the results have shown that there us no big difference when immunoprophylaxis failure is concerned in children that have been breast feed by their mothers which carry the hepatitis B virus and the babies that were feed by bottle. Another question asked was whether there was a bigger risk of transmitting hepatitis B to the infant if brestfeed by the mother that carry the hepatitis B virus. The answer was given after some studies made by doctors. If the infant is vaccinated against hepatitis B and taking into consideration hepatitis B globulin, the infant that is breast feed by his hepatitis B carrying mother is not at more risk of getting hepatitis B from her.

There is also the problem of infection with hepatitis B virus of the fetus. The answer is very simple. Even if the mother has the hepatitis B virus, the infection with hepatitis in the uterus may be stopped by injections . This method does not have any side- effects and can protect the fetus from hepatitis B virus.

Another matter that we must take into consideration when talking about hepatitis B is the vaccine. The question is can pregnant women get vaccinated against hepatitis B? And the answer is very satisfying, yes they can. This liver problem, hepatitis B in pregnancies can not be associated with an increased rate of abortion or congenital malformation. However, there is a matter to take into consideration if pregnant and having hepatitis B virus. If this hepatitis virus is aquired in your last trimester, your child might be born early. Another problem is that more than half of the women that contact hepatitis B virus in their last days of pregnancy are more than likely to transmit the hepatitis virus to their children.

Coping With Stress While Pregnant

Stress affects us everyday at work, at home, and in public places. But when you are pregnant, this stress is no longer affecting just you - it is also affecting your baby.

While there have been many studies concerning the affects of stress on pregnant mothers and their babies, scientists are still unsure how stress affects the development of the baby. But one thing is for sure, however, you should reduce the amount of stress in your life in order to make your pregnancy less painful.

Exercise

If you can, try to exercise a little bit each day.

You can check out low impact exercises that will stretch your muscles, but will not cause your heart rate to increase too quickly. To begin, you might try out low impact exercises like yoga or even tai chi. Both of these exercise routines, will slowly stretch your muscles, without causing your heart rate to rise to fast.

The deep breathing involved with yoga and tai chi will also help you take in more oxygen and prepare you for the challenging breathing during labor.

Taking short walks each day will also help. It is an easy exercise to do, without the need to attend a scheduled, class.

It is a good idea, to ask your doctor before beginning any exercise regimen.

Food

Avoiding foods that are high in caffeine are best when you are pregnant. Your pregnant body and your growing baby are already working hard. Why risk doing any permanent damage?

You should eat foods that are high in folic acid, vitamin B6 and others that will give you and your baby the vitamins and nutrients needed for development. During the first trimester, your baby will develop all of its major organs.

Eating a healthy diet will benefit your baby at this point and throughout your pregnancy.

Breathing Techniques

Slow breathing, stretching, and other relaxation techniques will help you feel less nauseous and will also help keep leg cramps, back pain, and shortness of breath to a minimum.

Reducing stressful situations in your life is also recommended. Possibly, some simple adjustments to your daily routine could make a difference now, and be great habits to start for your mothering days ahead.

How To Look A Million Dollars During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is unique to everyone and can have a mixture of emotions. You`re bringing new life into the world, but can`t figure out why you burst into tears for no apparent reason. Your body is undergoing major changes that, especially for new moms, can be confusing, exciting, and intimidating. All too often, however, women don`t get to enjoy pregnancy and the beauty that comes along with it. We forget that pregnancy can be one of the most physically beautiful times of a woman`s life, and why not take advantage of it?

It`s sad that women are often encouraged to hide their pregnancies. It`s true that we may feel "fat as a house", but it`s the most beautiful fat-as-a-house feeling there could be. Why hide the fact that you`re bringing new life into the world and are growing each and every day towards giving birth to your new baby? It`s time pregnant women began showing off their figures, and you may be surprised to know that our male counterparts agree. Men find pregnancy to be one of the sexiest time in a woman`s life. Here`s some tips on taking advantage of the opportunity.

It used to be that maternity fashion was designed to cover up pregnancy and hide Mom`s belly. Not anymore. Shop around and you`ll find that, nowadays, there`s all sorts of places and designers that are offering more tailored, streamlined, and sexier clothing that shows off mom`s protruding belly and figure. Finally, there`s something to wear besides those old sweats, and this can make us feel better too.

It`s true that pregnancy brings about changes in the skin that are less than enjoyable - breakouts, swelling, blotchiness, and excessive oiliness can all wreak havoc on how we feel about going out in public. Now is the time to revamp your skin care and cosmetic line. Purchase products that cater to these skin problems instead of sticking to your normal picks. Pregnancy brings about new needs and problems for the skin, so the old system won`t work.

Not only is keeping an eye on your lifestyle imperative for a healthy baby, it`s good for your sanity and beauty upkeep as well. Keep stress to a minimum and that means moderate exercise everyday, meditation, and anything else that helps you relax - bathes, massages, and spending time enjoying your pregnancy. Eating right and drinking lots of water will keep baby and Mom healthy and put together with these other lifestyle tips, make a significant difference on how you feel and look during your pregnancy. Most of all, connect with baby and enjoy being pregnant! Last but not least, make sure you cut out any alcohol and cigarette smoke. This is highly detrimental to your health, and indeed the healthy of your baby, causing a range of problems in later life. It is imperative that you ditch the drink, and kick the cigarettes to avoid permanently damaging your baby.

The Best Time to Get Pregnant

The best time for a woman to get pregnant is the time that is best for her. Most likely you have received a lot of advice over the years about the best time to get pregnant. Some people have told you that the best time to get pregnant is when you are young, because you have more energy during pregnancy and the labor is easier. Some people have told you that the best time to get pregnant is in your thirties, because you will already be established in your career and your relationship and will have more time and financial resources to be a good parent.

Unsolicited advice aside, the truth is that the best time to get pregnant is different for every woman. If you look around you, there are all different women in all different stages of life having babies. Some women have babies very early in life and are very good mothers. Some women have one child at age thirty-five and feel that that was exactly what they wanted. Some women do not want to have children of their own at all.

Pretty much the only factor that restricts you when choosing the best time to get pregnant is the biological limit set on your reproductive years. Unfortunately, even if you think the best time for you to get pregnant would be when you are seventy-five years old, this is unlikely to work out well for you. If this is your plan, plan instead to become a foster or adoptive parent at this age. Unless major medical advances are made between now and when you become a senior citizen, this is never going to be the best time to get pregnant!

Ideally, the best biological time to get pregnant is between twenty-five and thirty-five years of age. Studies show that women in this age group have the best chance of a healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery. After age thirty-five and earlier than four years after the start of menstruation, the rate of complications goes up. If you are in your late thirties or early forties, your risk of complications and some birth defects is higher, but this does not mean that you cannot deliver a healthy baby. Plenty of women have delivered at this age.

If you feel that now is the best time for you to get pregnant, no matter what your age, see your doctor to ask for suggestions to optimize your chances for a successful, healthy pregnancy. Preparation, prenatal vitamins, and early obstetrical care can make the difference in your pregnancy. The best time to get pregnant is not universal, but rather, individual. Ask yourself, "when is my best time to get pregnant?" and then listen to your own answer!

Symptoms Of Pregnancy Heartburn-Living With Heartburn During Pregnancy

A lot of women all over the country suffer from symptoms of pregnancy heartburn especially during the later part of their pregnancy. According to experts, the changes in the level of hormones in pregnant women would soften the ligaments that would normally have kept the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) tightly closed. Note that when the LES is open most of the time, food and gastric acid could escape into the esophagus and throat causing that burning sensation. Where the symptom of pregnancy heartburn is so intense, many women would often think that they are having a heart attack.

Another reason why pregnant women often times suffer from the symptom of pregnancy heartburn is that the weight of the growing baby on their stomach may cause a lot of pressure in the stomach. Pregnant women who eat large portions of food may experience a reflux of the food into the esophagus and throat coupled with that tight feeling in the chest area. The tightening of the chest will cause a lot much pain to pregnant women especially during the later part of their pregnancy.

How To Prevent Symptom Of Pregnancy Heartburn

Although symptom of pregnancy heartburn could be considered as harmless, it could definitely make a pregnancy feel uncomfortable. The burning sensation in the chest could render a pregnant woman breathless. To avoid symptoms of pregnancy heartburn, pregnant women should avoid eating food that are known to trigger this situation. For instance chocolates, coffee, citrus juice, fatty foods and spicy foods could trigger heartburns and should be avoided by pregnant women. Spicy and fatty food in particular could cause a lot of misery to pregnant women so these should be avoided as much as possible.

Another thing that could trigger symptoms of pregnancy heartburn is overeating. A big meal is one of the primary triggers for symptoms of pregnancy heartburn. Since the baby is already taking up so much space in the stomach of the woman, a big meal could really be uncomfortable. Pregnant women should eat only a healthy amount of food. Food that is high is soluble fiber such as fresh fruits and vegetables are highly recommended for pregnant women, Furthermore, pregnant women should chew their food thoroughly for easy digestion.

Pregnant women should take care not to drink alcoholic beverages. Not only will alcoholic drinks cause symptoms of pregnant heartburn, it could also have a lot of adverse effects on the baby.

What is the Best Home Pregnancy Test?

An accurate home pregnancy test is extremely useful for women because they can test in the privacy of their own homes, allowing them to have an almost instantaneous result that will either be cause to celebrate and start planning or shed a few tears and then hope for better results next time.

First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test is most voted home pregnancy test kit.

Lowest Detections

In January, 2003, user Reports made a broad cast of their result on CBS' The Early Show and revealed that First Response could detect hCG levels as low as 6.5 mIU (thousandths of an International Unit). The next best level that several of the home pregnancy tests can detect is 25 mIU. The 5 least sensitivity home pregnancy tests that user Reports experienced couldn't detect hCG until the level had reached 100 mIU.

This level would most certainly decode into several days after a missed period since 6.5 is nearly the level of hCG present when the embryo attaches itself to the uterine wall. The point of the hormone also becomes double about every two days so, there should have been several days between a level of 6.5 and 100. With this kind of front, there's no problem that First Response is the best home pregnancy test.

Hcg

The pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG is produced by the placenta once the embryo attaches itself to the wall of the uterus. Once this happens, hCG will be present in a pregnant woman's blood and urine but all the tests and experiments can not spot the same level of the hormone. The longer a test takes to identify the hCG the less susceptible it is to the pregnancy hormone. First Response is certainly the most perceptive and best home pregnancy test.

EPT, the first home pregnancy test on the market in 1978, was not cited in the report but has sensitivity capable of detecting hCG at 40 mIU. That's a little astounding, bearing in mind they have been in the marketplace for almost 30 years and started this industry. They do have years of dependability behind them though they have gone digital. Now when you take the EPT home pregnancy test the words PREGNANT or NOT PREGNANT will show in the result window instead of a line.

Please bear in mind that 99.9 % accuracy is not enough while the kit is used by millions of ladies every month. In spite of the home pregnancy test ,you settle on to utilize, whether it is the best home pregnancy test or another one, see you should consult your doctor as soon as possible if you think you might be pregnant.

Most important about pregnancy after 35 years

In the last few years the number of pregnant women between the age of 35 and 40 has increased more than twice as well as the number of births over 40 which is higher with 50% than in the past. One reason can be women working or more safety.

The latest technology of pre-natal research has given women over 40 the possibility to give birth to healthy children as well as a 20 year old girl. Also new discovered treatments for sterility or different methods to help women with complicated pregnancies or chronicle diseases have increased the possibility of women to be elderly mums.

Contraceptive methods are available to anyone today. The concept" it is never too late" as well as different important business women and actresses example has encouraged women to have a baby later but when they are sure to have found a soul mate, have a success career, proper education and a good financial situation.

Although you can have a healthy baby at any age nowadays, often women give birth later because of sterility problems or late marriages.

According to some medical standards the best age for having your first baby is between 20 and 24. Though, women aren't always emotional ready to have a family at this age as a physical development doesn't necessarily mean also mental maturity.

If a woman over 35 had no pathological miscarriages, does not suffer from sterility and is physically well, her chances of having a normal, healthy baby are the same of one 20 year old girl. Of course no late pregnancy can be considered risk free but by following several basic steps they can be reduced to minimum.

First condition is to be able to get pregnant as after 35 years your biological clock stars ticking slower. Even if we don't talk about early menopause, it will surely take you at least 6 to 12 months to be able to conceive.

One of the highest risks is that of giving birth to a baby with genetic disorders such as Down syndrome as for an over 35 year old the risk is 9 times higher. This danger decreased however due to the development of abdominal echography.

The risk of miscarriage increases after 35, as well as the one of developing health complications such as high blood pressure and diabetes. According to statistics the threat of pathologic position of fetus or abruption of placenta increases and necessary surgical interventions can highly affect both mother and baby.

The labor at elder women is usually 45 minutes longer than for a young girl. Also complications during delivery prescribe the very modern cesarean section.

Endometriosis and fibroids are often encountered at women over 35 and can affect fertility and pregnancy evolution. All risks can be reduced to minimum when carefully planning the pregnancy and by physical preparation.

The baby's organs form in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, so you need to eat well, take vitamins, restrain from alcohol and caffeine, eat and sleep well. Physical exercises are important as long as you don't exaggerate. Emotional stress must also be avoided as it can lead to complications during labor.

In spite of all difficulties with age come also experience and knowledge. Late maternity can mean less ambivalent feelings during pregnancy and more care about growing a child. A professionally accomplished woman sees her child as a blessing and not as something that may pull her back. Also an elder mum goes under less stress.

Though to all the advantages it is known that an older genital age leads to slower recuperation after childbirth.

Some women after 35 get slower used to caring for a child, some need to act as a mother and as a nurse for the old parents at the same time. Some parents spoil the child to much, especially when it's only child. However every case is different and every after 35 woman deciding to have a child needs to know all the implications.

Pregnancy and Sex life

Your changing sex life

After the elation of finding out your wife's pregnant, you'll likely find yourself pondering whether everything you've always heard about sex and babies is true. Will you still be as turned on by your wife during and after pregnancy? Will sex during pregnancy make either of you too worried about hurting the baby to enjoy yourself? Will your wife be as sexually motivated as she was while you were trying to get pregnant? The only thing certain is that your sex life will change. The cold hard facts are that you will likely be having less sex from now on, a condition that extends beyond the birth of your new baby. Most of this is never discussed between dads, unless with a knowing wink or a pained joke.

Your desires

In the first trimester, you might feel hornier than ever. You'll feel closer to your wife than ever before. You may feel a strange pride that people will know that you're responsible for the baby growing insider her. On the other hand, pregnancy may create some contradictions. You now will be having sex with a mom, which might seem less than sexy to you. More likely, however, is that your wife's increasingly full and curvy form will seem more erotic to you.

Her desires

Your wife's desires will go up and down and can vary from trimester to trimester. She may be less inhibited without birth control, more intimate with you due to your new responsibility, and more sexy because of her filled out shape. For your sake, we'll hope for this scenario. On the other hand, she may spend a lot of the first trimester vomiting. She may feel more maternal and less sexual, or she may just feel fat and unattractive.

Baby safety

Everyone worries at least a little bit about sex hurting the baby. It's hard not imagine pushing deep into the baby's temporary home with every thrust. Your baby is safe, however, within a cushioned amniotic fluid-filled sac. There is very little risk to your baby unless you're having very rough sex.

What you can do

As with most issues within a relationship, the best thing you can do is talk about your needs and desires. You may have to take the lead to try new positions and other options since traditional positions may become too painful or uncomfortable in the last months. Whatever makes your mate the most comfortable is your best chance at having a sex life through the third trimester.

For more information about pregnancy planning tips, please visit: http://www.greatdad.com

How heartburn can occur during pregnancy and how it can affect you

Heartburn and chest pain can occur anytime during your pregnancy especially in the first trimester. It is important to know how they come about, what causes them and especially how they can be avoided or cured.

During pregnancy the placenta secrets a higher quantity of progesterone in order to relax the uterine muscles; that is how the uterus can keep the baby. Progesterone also relaxes the valve between the stomach and the esophagus which is meant to keep food and acid in the stomach after every meal. This allows the gastric acid to travel backwards and create the burning sensation. It is known as acid reflux.

As your baby begins to grow it exercises a higher pressure on the internal organs and the acid reflux and food reflux from your stomach into your esophagus increases. You must follow several steps for relieving these symptoms, ease the pain they cause and prevent as much as possible their reoccurrence:
1. Stay away from food that causes these kinds of problems: fried food, carbohydrates, caffeine, citrus fruits, fats, chocolate. However you must know heartburn can also be caused by other kinds of food.
2. Eat smaller amounts of food and have more then 3-4 meals a day so your body has enough time for food digestion, and the chest burn will stop.
3. Try to avoid eating in the evening before going to bed. Have your meal a few hours before going to sleep so your body can digest the food properly. This will decrease the chance of acid reflux from your stomach.
4. Avoid wearing tight clothing which increases the pressure on your child as well as on the other organs causing them to react through gastric reflux.
5. Smoking and alcohol can and will harm you anytime especially during your pregnancy time. Give it up! And think how these can cause upsetting heartburn and damage your child's health.
6. If the symptoms don't concede you can also appeal to an antacid during your pregnancy but not before asking about it. Your medical doctor can tell you more about its effects on your evolution as a pregnant woman.

Try to remember every woman and every pregnancy is different. Sometimes heartburn is caused by all kinds of food and sometimes it never occurs. If you really suffer from heartburn you should ask a doctor or a nutritionist about it; they may be able to suggest any kind of treatment to help you loose these problems once and for all.

Facts and changes about mother and baby during the three semesters of pregnancy

Pregnancy is a natural condition which involves certain changes in women's body, behaviour and even lifestyle. Moreover, pregnancies vary from woman to woman, some women may have an easy period of pregnancy and on the other hand some women may face complications and need to be supervised by a doctor during their pregnancy.

First of all, women who find out that are pregnant should be ready for the next period of 9 months, they need to find a specialist in order to have a medical support during the pregnancy, they should learn about their condition and how to take care of themselves and the unborn baby and moreover pregnant women need to make some changes in their lifestyle, such as giving up drinking alcohol or smoking.

Furthermore, a normal period of pregnancy is about 40 weeks. This time is divided into three periods of time called semesters and in each semester things happen to the woman's body and the baby. So, pregnant women may face natural emotional changes such as anxiety, fear about pregnancy and childbirth.

In the first semester, the baby who is still a tiny cells starts to develop and its heart begin to beat. Moreover, the first pregnancy symptoms that women usually face or not are: period stops or becomes light; some women may feel nausea and cannot eat certain foods and on the other hand many women feel the desire to eat foods that they never liked before. Other specific prgnancy symptoms are the swollen and tender breasts, the nipples and the area around them get darker, frequent urination, pregnant women feel tired and have headches and in some cases women may experience emotional shifts and mood swings, such as sadness or happiness out of the blue, fear and others. Moreover, in the first semester of pregnancy some women may develop complications which can lead to the loss of the baby. So, if a woman is diagnosed with a complicated pregnancy, she should follow a certain treatment and be careful during the pregnancy.

In the second semester, the embryo tends to seem more like a baby, the child has eyebrows, eyelashes, fine hair, can even move his/her hands and can kick with the legs the mother's tummy. In addition to this, in this semester, women may notice other symptoms, such as weight gain, the breast get bigger, the feet, ankles, and face may swell, some women my experience nosebleeds and also varicose veins.

The third semester tends to be risky too, the pregnant woman should take care in order to avoid a premature delivery. In this last stage of the pregnancy, the belly is quite visible, the navel pushes out, the baby can be seen moving from the outside and because of the big belly, women can suffer from backaches and may have difficulties in walking or moving fast.

All in all, pregnancy is a unique moment in every woman's life and the three semesters bring new changes and new exeperinces in the mother's life. By following a proper diet and taking into consideration the doctor's advice, a future mother can have an easy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

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.

Very Early Signs Of Pregnancy - How To Tell If You Are Pregnant

So, you're wondering if you might be pregnant? While pregnancy symptoms will often vary between women and even between pregnancies, there are some common symptoms to give you some help.

Missed Period

This is one of the very early signs of pregnancy, and what typically will lead to a pregnancy test. While this is a good indication of being pregnant, it's not foolproof the first month. Some women may still have light bleeding during their first month.

Morning Sickness

Another common pregnancy symptom is the dreaded morning sickness. It will generally start as soon as two weeks after conception, although it can take up to 8 weeks for it to begin. While most women experience this nauseous feeling, there are some who never do.

Tender Or Swollen Breasts

Having unusually tender breasts is a very early sign of pregnancy also. This symptom can begin within a week or two after conception. Women may also notice their breasts becoming swollen and quite sensitive. You may also notice your areolas darken.

Implantation Bleeding

This symptom is a very early sign of pregnancy. Within 6-10 days of conception, the embryo attaches itself to inside the walls of the uterus. When this takes place it's very common that a woman will have cramping as well as spotting.

Feeling Tired

A feeling of increased tiredness or fatigue is another pregnancy symptom which begins early on after conception.

Increased Urination

This is a classic early sign of pregnancy that affects most every woman.

Frequent Headaches

Do to the shifting and rising of your body's hormones, many women experience headaches during the early stages of pregnancy.

These are the most common very early signs of pregnancy. There are others such as food cravings, backaches, etc., but many of these occur well after the early stages of conception.

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In And Out Of Pregnancy With Easy And Quick Preg-Weight Loss

I wrote this article because I am sure you'd like to avoid gaining weight in the wrong places during pregnancy. What you would rather like is to be healthy gaining weight only in the right places.

So that you can have an easy labor, a safe delivery and lose your pregnancy weight quickly afterwards. You also don't want stretch marks, fatigue and all the misery associated with pregnancy.

If I am right about you on all the above, then this is the best article you will read about pregnancy and you, especially if your are newly pregnant and starting to become anxious about the changes taking place both inside and on your body:

� Why are you feeling nauseous in the mornings and most of the time?
� What amount of weight is normal? Am I gaining weight too fast?
� What exercises are healthy for you?
� What should you do to gain weight only your my tummy?
� What types of food should you eat? What types should you not eat?
� Oh your stomach, will it ever go back to normal?
� Will you have stretch marks, sagging breasts
and cellulite?
� Will your pregnancy mask ever go away?
� How do you ensure that you have an easy delivery?
� Is there anything you can do now to hasten your pregnancy weight
� loss afterwards?

Dilemma:

Well, well, well, you are not alone in the pregnancy tight spot. Many women have gone through child bearing without being able to find answers to the above questions. They went though child bearing in unnecessary pregnancy misery. You sure don't want that, do you?

While most of these mothers wallowed in their misery of pains and nauseous, the last things that crossed their minds were proper exercises and guided nutrition.

So they ended up eating wrongly and being sedentary throughout their pregnancies, thereby accumulating unnecessary pregnancy weight, being unfit for easy child birth.

Ignorance:

They knew nothing about how to gain weight only in their tummy during pregnancy, and to shade same after delivery. Some of them will be so bloated and turn to using dangerous diet regimen and unhealthy exercise to try to correct the excess weight gain to their own detriment.

Information:

But you can stay in shape even during pregnancy. It is not a hard thing to do. There are programs online that will help you take your fitness, weight and shape during and after delivery of your healthy baby, into your own hands.

The good ones of these online pregnancy programs will turn you into a shapely sexy expectant mother, by guiding you on nutrition and appropriate exercise, because a pregnant woman is a special person for whom every consideration is made for two.

So, do not wallow in pregnancy misery, become learned about all that will make you comfortable during and after pregnancy. You can find all the information online.

What Are The First Pregnancy Symptoms

When it comes to being pregnant, there are a number of symptoms that a woman can expect. Some are very common and others are more rare, but pregnancy symptoms are often universal in that they effect every mom-to-be.

A pregnant woman may notice nausea, sensitivity to certain foods and/or smells, dizziness, fatigue and morning sickness in the early days of pregnancy.

A woman's body begins to change soon after conception and this means that prenatal care should begin as quickly as possible.

In addition, early detection of pregnancy is important in that certain lifestyle changes may be in order. Among them, avoiding air travel and cigarette smoke, alcohol and other products that could prove to be a health hazard for both the expectant mother and her unborn child.

A woman who believes that she may be pregnant should consult a licensed medical doctor to confirm the best method of ensuring the health of herself and her unborn child.

The information in this article is to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional medical.

Fibromyalgia Often Unspotted during Pregnancy

Fibromyalgia is a serious disorder of suspected neurological origin manifested by intense, recidivating muscular pain, joint stiffness, pronounced sate of generalized fatigue, sleep disturbances, anxiety, irritability, increased sensitivity to external stimuli and depression. At present, the exact causes and risk factors of the disease are unknown, fibromyalgia still being regarded as an enigma among the medical community.

There is no specific cure for fibromyalgia and the treatments available today are only partially efficient in slowing down the progression of the disease and alleviating its generated symptoms. In addition, due to the lack of conclusive medical data on fibromyalgia and the deceiving character of the symptoms it produces (the symptoms of fibromyalgia have an unspecific, general character, being also produced by a variety of other diseases that aren't related to fibromyalgia), the disease can be very difficult to diagnose properly. In persons with special conditions (existing or past neuropsychological diseases, pregnant women, etc.), fibromyalgia is even more difficult to diagnose accurately and more important, timely.

Recent medical investigations have revealed the fact that fibromyalgia is often overlooked during pregnancy. According to the results of elaborate medical research conducted by a team of medical scientists from Temple University, the symptoms of fibromyalgia experienced by pregnant women are very often misdiagnosed as regular clinical manifestations of pregnancy. While symptoms such as intense pain, generalized fatigue and pronounced psychological stress generally point to fibromyalgia, their occurrence in pregnant women determine most doctors to think that they are a normal part of pregnancy, not indicators of disease.

In order to accurately distinguish between the early signs of fibromyalgia and the normal clinical manifestations of pregnancy in future mothers, doctors are currently focusing on establishing more reliable criteria of diagnosis, which would completely eliminate the existing confusion between normal indicators of pregnancy and the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Once they will discover efficient methods of identifying the symptoms of fibromyalgia in pregnant women, doctors will focus on reducing the impact of the disease in future mothers.

A very recent medical study has clearly revealed that the symptoms of fibromyalgia are very difficult to detect during pregnancy. However, the same study has concluded that there are ways to detect the presence of fibromyalgia in pregnant women by comparing their symptoms to those of pregnant women in good health. In addition, the researchers claimed that the presence of fibromyalgia in such categories of patients can also be spotted by verifying the patients' medical history.

The study involved the participation of pregnant women with and without fibromyalgia. The volunteers were between the ages of 29 and 31, pregnant in the third trimester and had no history of premature, complicated birth or abortion. All the subjects who participated in the study had no chronic illnesses other than fibromyalgia and most of them were actually in perfect health. By the end of the study, the conclusions were that the signs of fibromyalgia can be distinguished from the clinical manifestations of pregnancy with already existing methods of diagnosis.

For instance, compared with the group of pregnant women without fibromyalgia, the group with the disease experienced exacerbated pain (perceived through the entire body), states of exhaustion and even states of mental confusion. Although it is extremely difficult to timely and accurately detect the presence of fibromyalgia in pregnant women, the researchers have demonstrated that this task is not impossible. Medical scientists have recently initiated a new series of studies, aiming to discover more effective, reliable methods of diagnosing fibromyalgia during pregnancy.