Preparing for Conception
Deciding to have a baby is one of the most important decisions you and your partner will make. Ensuring you are in a good shape will make it easier for you to cope with pregnancy, the delivery and the demands of a new baby. Preparing for pregnancy should begin at least 3 months before trying to conceive. Review your nutrition and stop using contraception. Check for any medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, epilepsy or any genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia etc. To reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy, review your medical condition with your doctor before you become pregnant. Change your habits by quitting smoking if you are a smoker, stop heavy drinking as the alcohol in your bloodstream can cross the placenta and enter your baby's bloodstream. Increase your folic acid intake as scientific studies found that increasing your levels of folic acid in the 12 weeks before and after conception can significantly reduce the risk of your baby being born with spina bifida, a cleft plalate and hare lip. Folic acid is one of the B vitamins. Good source include green leafy vegetables, whole wheat bread and fortified cereals; oranges and bananas; milk, yoghurt and cheese; beans and pulses such as black-eyed beans and lentils. It is recommended that you take a supplement of 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of folic acid daily in tablet form from before you try to conceive and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Check your weight as underweight or overweight may reduce your chances of conceiving and the health of your baby. If you are overweight, you are at risk of raised blood pressure, also at risk from "gestational" diabetes. The extra weight will also put an increased strain on your joints druing pregnancy and causes backache and breathlessness. And being seriously underweight can cause growth problem in the developing foetus if you are suffering from an eating disorder. Don't be disappointed if conception does not occur immediately after you have unprotected intercourse as studies have found that only one in four perfectly normal couples conceive within a month. If after trying to conceive for a year and you are still unsuccessful, talk to your doctor who can arrange tests which include semen analysis, ultrasound test of the fallopian tube.
Sign of PregnancyThere are a number of signs and symptoms that can indicate that you are pregnant. You may not notice all of them "at first" or you may know you are pregnant because you "feel different". A missed period is the most obvious sign especially if you have a regular period. Early signs of pregnancy:
Health and Diet during first weeks of pregnancy
"Your entire staff has made me feel very comfortable! Thank you so much for the good work and the incredible savings (over $11,000!). With no maternity insurance this was a great option. I will definitely use you again and, as promised, will tell my friends who are going to have babies. Looking after yourself from the very first weeks of pregnancy is the most important thing you can do for the welfare of your baby. You will find that your body is making its own changes. You will experience some emotional highs and lows and some physical discomforts as your body adjusts to its changing hormone levels. Now that you are pregnant you are probably experiencing a mixture of conflicting emotions ranging from elation to apprehension. You may feel thrilled one day, doubtful the next day or worried about how you will cope as a mother and may burst into tears at the slightest provocation. These emotional highs and lows are perfectly natural, so don't feel guilty about them - many are triggerede by an increase in hormones.
In addition to mood swings, raising hormone levels mean you may also experience a number of physical changes. Once your hormones have stabilized, they may also help you to experience a sense of wellbeing and calmness. In fact, some pregnant women say they have never looked or felt better. Your physical changes may include breast changes as early by 6-8 weeks and you will notice your breast become noticeably larger. Your nipples and areolae will darken and the veins close to the surface may become larges. Increased progesterone may make your breast feel firm and tender and you may feel some tingling. By about 12-14 weeks your breasts may start to produce colostrum, the milk-like substance that will feed your baby for the first few days. Therefore, wear a good support bra with wide straps as your breasts grow. Use breast pads to catch colostrum leaks. As your baby grows and takes up more space, you may become breathless because your lungs do not have as much room to expand. Once your baby's head is engaged, you should feel more comfortable again. Try to sit and stand as possible and sleep propped up in bed. The different amounts of hormones may cause some skin changes. These include brown uneven patches on the face (chloama); streaks or lines on the breast, abdomen and thighs (stretch marks) and a dark line running from the top to the bottom of the abdomen. This line, like chloasma marks, becomes worse in the sun, but disappears after pregnancy. Stretchmarks fade to a silvery appearance but never disappear completely. Prevent or minimize the stretchmarks by applying stretch marks cream early into your skin.
Some Common ChangesVaginal dischargeVaginal discharge is likely to increase in pregnancy. See your doctor if it is smelly, itchy or makes you sore. Try to wear cotoon underwear and panty liners.NailsNails may grow faster than usual and become brittle, so use a good nail-conditioning cream or pamper yourself to a manicure treatment.Hair TirednessYou will feel tired easily during the first three and last three months. Don't overdo things and rest when you can. Eat a well-balanced diet, take gentle exercise like walking.Food CravingYou may crave for strange or specific foods which are common during pregnancy. Do not worry if your overall diet remains healthy.Urinate FrequentlyThis is common during early pregnancy and later stage when the enlarged uterus puts pressure on the bladder. Avoid tea and coffee as these are diuretics. Try to empty your bladder as soon as you have the urge. If you have pain or burning sensation when passing urine, consult your doctor in case you have an infection.If you wish to learn more about childbirth, click here for childbirth program that will guide you from the beginning to delivery.
Your baby developmentDoctors date pregnancy from your last menstrual period, so that about two weeks from conception, you are termed "4 weeks" pregnant; the average pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks although a baby born 37 weeks is considered "term". Up to 8 weeks, the development baby is called an embryo and from then on, foetus. If you do not feel your baby movements by about week 20, or your baby has started moving and then seems to stop, contact your doctor or midwife for further advice. Only 5% of babies are born on the expected date of delivery (EDD). Most women go into labour within 2 weeks of this date but it si s a good idea to have your hospital bags packed from 36 weeks. Although as many babies are born after 40 weeks as before, you may find yourself very tired of waiting once your EDD has come and gone. Your doctor will continue to monitor your baby's health and probably may suggest that labour is induced (started artificlly). When your baby head is "engaged" some time during the last 4 weeks before birth, you may notice as you will feel less pressure on your chest and upper abdomen and be able to breathe more freely again. There are some babies who may not engage until shortly before labour starts or even after the membrances have ruptured. About 5% of babies do not move into this position and are born with their feet or buttocks first (in a breech position). Some breech babies are delivered vaginally; others by Caesarean.
Sometime after the 20th week of pregnancy, you will experience painless tightenting of the uterus. These are known as Braxton Hicks contractions and are thought to help prepare the uterus for labour. They may become stronger and painful near your date of delivery and may be mistaken for labour pains. True labour contractions, however, increase in intensity and frequency. You will feel the contractions of early labour as a mild backache or as something like period pains or an aching feeling. You may also be nauseous, actually vomit or have a bout of diarrhoea. Time your contractions and once they start coming every 10-15 mins, call your doctor or midwife. The contractions may be irrgular but will gradually become stronger and more frequent. In addition to contractions, there are other signs that mark the start of labour. The Show The plug of mucus that has helped to seal the entract to the uterus druing pregnancy comes away. Known as the "show", this is a sticky pinkish discharge, but there should not be a lot of blood. Phone your doctor for advice. The water breaking (rupture of membranes) The bag of amniotic fluid that surrounded your baby during pregnancy breaks and the water comes out in a gush or a trickle depending on the size of the tear and the position of the baby's head. If this happen, phone your doctor and get ready to go to hospital at once even if there is no contractions as your baby is no longer protected against infection. ** If any of the above signs of labour occur before you are 36 weeks pregnant, call your doctor immediately.
For more information regarding pregnancy to giving birth, visit the Baby Center which is a great website for information and tips and mommies sharing their experience.
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