Free Pregnancy Info

Author Archive

So you are at your 11^th week of pregnancy, right? This is a week when your baby is growing bigger little by little inside your tummy. In fact, Week 11 is when your baby is a size you can hold within the palm of your hand. It weighs about a quarter of an ounce and is about 1.6 inches long. Yes, your baby is becoming bigger and bigger every week.

Week 11 also means that your baby’s skin is not translucent anymore and you won’t possibly be able to see through it. Though it still is paper thin, it is on its way to become a multi-layered membrane. Soon it will lose its transparent texture. Little buds are forming inside its mouth which will ultimately take the shape of teeth. Your baby can also open and close its fists now. Till now, its hands and feet had a webbed appearance as they were attached to each other. But this week they are will separate. The huge space inside your tummy available as you advance on your pregnancy will also allow it to squirm and kick around a lot. You will actually be able to feel its kicks! You should know beforehand that the next three weeks are going to bring about an amazing change in your baby. It will almost double in size during this period and will grow faster than at any other stage of the pregnancy. Taking care of your self is especially important during this time.

People may not immediately realize the fact that you are pregnant during Week 11, but don’t worry. You will be growing big soon enough! Your first trimester is also getting over and eating well and staying happy should be your priority. Some women have noticed that their fingernails and hair grow faster during this period, but the hair may also look unruly. If morning sickness has been bothering you a lot, take comfort in the fact that it’s just one or two weeks more that you will have to deal with it. A lot of women will also start gaining weight.

Weight gain is a concern most women worry about. But take heart in the fact that weight gain is something all women face and it’s a normal thing. You will be losing most of it within 6 months after giving birth. Instead, enjoy your pregnancy. It is very important that you take in a lot of protein, as your baby is growing at a fast pace and it needs all the proteins it can get. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and drink water all day. Make sure you are eating 350-600 calories extra every day.

Take as much rest as possible though a walk everyday will help you feel good. Using a cream for stretch marks will prevent them from appearing. Pregnancy is a wonderful time. Thinking positive thoughts, reading good books, listening to music and spending time with people you love will help you stay happy which will ultimately be good for your little bundle of joy.

10th Week of Pregnancy

The 10^th week of pregnancy is the time when the effects of pregnancy finally begin to show effect. Tiredness and nausea are common symptoms and women feel lethargic all the time. Tiredness is due to the fact that another human is growing inside the woman’s womb. It is drawing away a substantial part of the nutrition which goes into the mother’s body. The belly bulge finally shows up and it comes into prominence. The expansion of the abdomen is mainly due to the distension of the bowels rather than the expansion of the uterus. The waistline disappears slowly and a woman would notice this. Measurements of the waist can be taken during this time. Later on one can compare the sizes during the 10^th week of pregnancy and the later stages of pregnancy. The baby is in its fetal stage during the tenth week of pregnancy.

The tenth week of pregnancy is the time during which small toes of the baby begin to appear. The eyes begin to be more prominent. Finally one would say that the fetus is beginning to look more human. The average size is around 1.06 to 1.38 inches in size. This size is small compared to the size which it will reach in its mother’s womb. It is just the beginning of the journey which it will complete inside the womb and its journey thereafter.

The disappearance of the tail is another remarkable feature that is visible in the tenth week of pregnancy. Tenth week of pregnancy is the thin line between the initial fetal stage and the later stages when the fetus will grow in size and develop into a complete human being.

The 10^th week can also be considered to be a very important milestone in the development of the fetus. The reason is that the initial stages of pregnancy are very critical. The critical stage is till the ninth week since during the ninth week, there may be congenital defects. By the tenth week the risk of developing congenital diseases is almost negligible. Hence the mother can breathe a sigh of relief. After this stage the fetus is expected to develop into a proper baby who would be delivered properly. The organ system of the fetus would start developing and a proper analysis of the womb would show that the organ systems have already started developing by the middle of the tenth week.

The tiny baby inside the mother’s womb would start kicking around but the kicks would be too feeble. The mother cannot feel the kicks since the kicks are too weak. But ultrasound photographs have shown that the tiny baby tries kick around the mother’s womb. A thorough check up of the mother is important during this period of pregnancy. This is also a transitional stage where the baby is getting transformed from a tiny cell into a full fledged baby. Hence proper medical checkups and care needs to be taken. One can even hear the feeble heartbeats of the baby during this time of pregnancy.

9th Week of Pregnancy

This week is no different than previous weeks for you, moms-to-be, when it comes to fatigue. Though you may not appear carrying your bundle of joy to others, you will certainly begin noticing many physical as well as psychological changes within your body and mind.

9^th week of pregnancy is very a busy week for your baby. Your baby who is in the shape of an embryo has begun to look like a child. By 9^th week, your baby’s physical development is more rapid. The joints like elbows, knees, ankles, wrists and shoulders are functioning and letting your baby to be in motion inside the amniotic sac.  Your 1 ½ inches baby’s heart is divided into four chambers with the developing valves. It is the stage when your almost grape size baby can make a fist and may start thumb sucking.

Fathers-to-be are advised to brace up to handle and take care of the mood swings of their beloved partners. Apart from mood swings, heartburn and bloating will trouble you in the 9^th week of pregnancy. Heartburn can be prevented by taking smaller food intake all through the day instead of eating three or four generous helpings at fixed timing.

Do not lie down immediately after a meal. This will give you slight relief from heartburn. You can also avoid heartburn by excluding spicy foodstuff from your diet. Drink glassful of milk or add honey to your glass of lukewarm milk. Many of you may be tempted to take antacids available over the counter. However do not take any kind of medicine without consulting your gynecologist or health care provider. If you are suffering from severe heartburn, your gynecologist may give you medicine.

Here is a rough list of things you may experience during 9^th week of pregnancy:

Fatigue

Morning sickness

Hormonal changes

Frequent urination

Sleeplessness at night

Mood swings, etc

You may not find comfortable sleeping position resulting in sleeplessness. This is the cause of increased fatigue during 9^th month of pregnancy. Following are the reasons for your restlessness:

Back pain

Heartburn

Increased abdomen etc.

Sleeping on either side is a best idea. However, if you sleep on your left side, it will be more beneficial for your baby. This will increase the blood supply to placenta giving more nourishment to your baby. Remember to keep your knees bent while sleeping on side. Do not sleep on your back or stomach during pregnancy. Sleeping on back can result in back aches, difficulty in breathing and can decrease blood circulation to baby and your heart.

Take ample of rest and avoid exhausting exercises. Swimming, prenatal Yoga is a good exercise during pregnancy; however consult your health care provider before starting any exercise. Join the group of expecting moms. Exchange of experiences may give you better feeling.

Wear loose clothes. Do not worry about your increasing waistline. You can take care of that after your delivery. Stay happy which will make your pregnancy pleasant experience.

8th Week of Pregnancy

Aah! So you are at Week 8 of your pregnancy. This is the week when your baby is becoming a person, so to say. It is developing physically and soon will resemble a miniature form of a complete human being.

Your baby now has a face with lips, nostrils and tongue. The buds from which the first teeth will grow are also appearing. Its back muscles, arms and legs are growing too. Its reproductive organs are also starting to form. Soon testes or ovaries will develop determining whether your baby will be a boy or a girl. Its small knees and elbows have also appeared. Its fingers and toes are webbed as they haven’t yet separated. Your baby now is between 0.31 and 0.43 in length. Your baby’s brain is also growing and developing. The umbilical cord that will connect the both of you has also started functioning. If you can get an ultra-sonography done this week, it would be great. You will enjoy seeing your baby’s fluttering heart and reflex movements.

A pain or cramp is a symptom you are likely to get during Week 5 of your pregnancy. You may also feel contractions or a tightening of your uterus. Don’t despair as this is because your uterus is growing to accommodate your growing baby. In case bleeding accompanies the tightening and contractions of the uterus, consult your doctor immediately. Another symptom you may experience is a pain that starts in your buttocks, goes down your back till it reaches your legs. This is a sort of nerve pain and you will find relief by lying down sideways putting pressure on the side that has not been affected.

If nausea and vomiting is really bothering you and remedies like eating something before getting out of bed in the mornings and drinking ginger tea are not helping, do talk to your doctor. He may recommend a few medications that will relieve you. At any stage of your pregnancy do not take any medications without consulting your doctor. Below are a few tips which will help you feel better and let you enjoy your pregnancy.

Eat frequent small meals and drink fluids throughout the day. It will not only keep nausea at bay, it will also keep you energized and keep fatigue away.

Drinking cold fluids such as ginger ale, lemonade and ginger tea will keep you from feeling dehydrated.

Avoid having too many cups of coffee. Caffeine is something you should totally stop having as soon as you get pregnant. But if you can’t imagine life without your caffeine fix, try to limit yourself to one cup a day.

Cooking with ginger is good as it works to prevent nausea and vomiting.

Ask your doctor about taking vitamin and iron supplements. You may need them.

Keep as active as you can. Walking, swimming and gardening are a few activities you will enjoy.

Pregnancy is a wonderful time of your life. Stay happy and enjoy every moment of this 9-month journey.

7th Week of Pregnancy

It is during the week 7 of the pregnancy where the major organs of the baby will develop. The mothers can expect a 13 mm growth of their child inside the womb. You might be able to discern tongue and the mouth forming in the child’s body. The newly formed baby will have its eyes formed with retina and lens attached to it. The muscle system in the body will continue to develop at its pace and will start developing its own blood type. The mothers could enjoy the warmth and movement of the slight webbing in the toes and the fingers during the week 7 of pregnancy. The baby would envisage the formation of intestines and appendix along with thinner veins beneath the skin.

The warm home will provide a comfy zone for the baby and would start bouncing by this time. The diligent working of the liver will start producing red blood cells and start breathing in a better way.

Mother’s development and growth:

This is the time when you find your favorite pair of jeans and other wears become uncomfortable for their usage. You might develop a small pooch look to the abdominal region. The complete usage of maternity clothes comes in to the picture by this time. Possibly this could be the last week where you could see your toes directly.

Morning sickness could be one problem and if you have the problem of migraine head aches, it could possibly get better or worse. Some even might their first migraine attack during pregnancy. Migraine attacks can be accompanied by vomiting and nausea. Some will face the problems of getting aura which will bring you wavy lines and flashing of lights before the eyes.

There can be much of hormonal changes in the body creating discomfort. Meditation and yoga will give betterment during the pregnancy times.

Healthy tips for the week 7 of pregnancy:

The mothers should be very careful with respect to the food items they eat. It has got a greater potential to affect the unborn baby. They must be aware of the food items that can be eaten and what not to eat. Many will start having cravings during the pregnancy. However, it should not be taken beyond the limits as it will lead to excessive weight gain. The taste preference will change and their favorite food items will be no more a favorite. Craving is a good indication that the body is void or deficient in nutrients. It is important to have calcium to strengthen the body.

Studies reveal that the cravings will change for every trimester. The most favorite items include pickles, salty food items, and fruits. Do not consume any kind of oily and deep fried food items. Avoid eating outside as it might not be healthy and lead to other health complications. To sum it up, week 7 pregnancy is an important period of time for both the child and the mother. It is necessary to exercise extra caution for the development of the baby.

6th Week of Pregnancy

Your blood and urine samples taken have tested positive for the pregnancy. Based upon your first day of last menstrual period that is LMP, You have been told by your gynecologist that first five weeks of pregnancy are over. That means you are six week pregnant. Congratulations mom-to-be!

Make your mind to accept the fact that within one year’s time you are going to become proud mommy of your sweet baby. However you may not get enough time to wonder about those sweet thoughts as this is the time of pregnancy when you start suffering from additional pregnancy symptoms.

The embryo starts growing more rapidly during 6^th week of pregnancy. It is the beginning of formation of the body parts like lungs, nose and jaw. This is the reason why you are facing severe bodily sensations generally referred to as pregnancy symptoms. Fatigue will be your partner for few more weeks and it may show its might during 6^th week of pregnancy. Here is a brief list of symptoms you may face along with fatigue:

• Morning sickness that is nausea and vomiting experienced by many pregnant women during early months of pregnancy.

• You may develop dislike and distaste about certain food and your craving for particular food may increase during 6^th week of pregnancy.

• The areolas, the small circular dark area around the nipple, will darken

• Your restroom trips will increase. Frequent urination is most common in throughout pregnancy.

When you enter 6^th week of pregnancy, you will notice certain changes in your body and physical appearance. The symptoms vary from woman to woman as each pregnancy is unique. Therefore do not be anxious if one of your friends is feeling certain things and you are not. The changes are as follows:

• You may gain a few pounds during this early stage of pregnancy.

• Some of you may notice some weight loss. Do not panic as this may happen because you are suffering from nausea and throwing up all you eat. This may result in weight loss. As you proceed, even you will start gaining weight. So be patient!

• You may have tenderness in your breasts.

• Along with fatigue, you may start suffering from heartburn. This uncomfortable burning sensation in the lower chest may accompany you during rest of your pregnancy.

• Some of you may experience spotting during the 6^th week of pregnancy. Consult your gynecologist immediately. The spotting occurs with light cramps in abdomen. In case of heavy bleeding, rush to your doctor as this may be one of the signs of miscarriage.

  

  
  

In the 6^th week of pregnancy, your health care provider may suggest an ultrasound to check growth of the embryo. You will be able to hear heartbeats of your ¾ inch long baby.

Continue taking folic acid as it is very important for brain formation of your baby. Make sure you are taking your prenatal vitamin supplements. Take enough rest that will keep you from getting extremely tired. Enjoy your pregnancy!

5th Week of Pregnancy

Sorry, moms-to-be, but Week 5 isn’t much different from Week 4.

Fatigue will probably still be your biggest symptom. Whatever you do, don’t have another cup of coffee to offset feeling tired! (Why are you still drinking caffeine, anyway?). Give your body a break and rest as much as you can. If you’re working outside the home and need a pick-me-up, avoid the soda machine and instead get outside for some fresh air and a brief walk.

“Morning sickness,” the nausea associated with pregnancy, may start now, but more than likely won’t begin for some weeks yet. In fact, the term “morning sickness,” is a misnomer, because pregnancy nausea can occur at any time of the day. Most “morning sickness” will get better after the first trimester, but some women suffer it throughout their pregnancy. That’s why it’s good to know natural ways to deal with it.

First, keep some crackers and seltzer water or club soda on hand. Eating a cracker or two, or drinking a small class of fizzy water, can offset the nausea. Some women find water with lemon or ginger tea helpful. If nothing seems to work, talk with your doctor before you try any other remedy, even something as seemingly innocuous as extra Vitamin B-6, another natural remedy. Every woman’s body responds differently to pregnancy, so always be cautious about anything that could potentially harmful the fetus.

And speaking of that little embryo, at Week 5 it’s hardly bigger than a small grain of rice, but big things are happening. The heart is developing out of the mesoderm, or middle layer of cells. The heart will divide into chambers to begin pumping blood. The mesoderm is also where bone, cartilage and muscles will develop. The top layer of cells, called the ectoderm, will produce the neural tube mentioned in Week 4, along with hair, skin, sweat glands, fingernails and toenails. A third layer of cells, the endoderm, is where the lungs, intestines, thyroid and pancreas develop.

At this stage of your pregnancy, there are some warning signs of possible complications to watch out for. One of these is what’s known as an ectopic pregnancy, something that can occur in 1 out of 100 pregnancies.

An ectopic pregnancy is when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. Abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding and nausea could be signs of an ectopic pregnant, but only your physician can diagnose the condition properly. If an ectopic pregnancy is suspected, your doctor should order a test to check the levels of HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, in your blood. HCG levels in your blood typically double every 48 hours when you’re pregnant. If your levels of this hormone don’t show this rate of growth, the next step might be to perform an ultrasound test to try to locate the embryo. Should an ectopic pregnancy be confirmed, your doctor will want you to undergo surgery immediately, because the location of the embryo means that the pregnancy can’t be concluded successfully. Sad as this outcome is, it’s important for you to have surgery right away to avoid serious damage to the fallopian tube that might interfere with your future ability to conceive.

There are other complications that can be detected this early in a pregnancy. One is known as a “blighted ovum,” in which the fertilized egg may implant, but the embryo doesn’t develop. Another complication is what’s called a “molar pregnancy,” when the zygote is somehow abnormal from the moment the sperm fertilizes the egg. These complications can require surgery, or they may result in miscarriages. No one knows why they happen, and it’s important that you not blame yourself if they should occur.

While it’s wise to be aware of the signs of potential complications, worrying about them won’t help. The statistics cited above show that most women go on to have normal pregnancies and deliver fine, healthy babies. Keep a relaxed attitude and go about a healthy lifestyle, and you’ll be doing everything you can to help that tiny embryo inside you develop fully into a human being.

4th Week of Pregnancy

By Week 4 of your pregnancy, you might start noticing some changes in your body. For starters, you’ll miss the expected start of your period.

Before that date, some women report feeling a little tired, with a touch of nausea and even some cramping – in short, the same kinds of symptoms that usually mean a menstrual period is about to start. Except that it doesn’t, which is the first sure sign that you may indeed be pregnant.

By Week 4, some women have built up enough hormones in their systems to show a positive result on a pregnancy test. At this stage, a home test kit can provide proof of whether you’re pregnant. If a home test confirms that you’re pregnant, your next step should be to make an appointment to see your gynecologist, who will refer you to an obstetrician. Most likely, the doctor won’t feel a need to see you immediately, but probably will prescribe prenatal vitamins.

If your first home pregnancy test comes back negative during Week 4, don’t despair. It’s possible that you simply haven’t built up enough pregnancy hormones yet. Give it another week or even two, and test again. By then you’ll probably get a clear positive result.

Don’t be surprised if fatigue is one of your Week 4 symptoms. After all, amazing things are happening inside your body.

At 4 weeks, the embryo in your uterus is still microscopically tiny, about one millimeter long, and it still doesn’t look anything like a human. At this stage the ball of cells will be embedding itself deeply into the uterine lining. The amniotic cavity is forming around it, and the placenta is starting to develop.

Growth of the placenta is a key development in pregnancy. Remember in week three we mentioned how the blastocyst was connecting to the uterine lining through a series of tunnels? Those tunnels are forming into a network of blood vessels and blood tissue that make up the placenta, which is the structure that brings nutrients and oxygen to the fetus.

Meanwhile, the cells in the blastocyst keep multiplying and now they’re beginning to differentiate. Some cells will form the neural tube that becomes the baby’s spinal column. Other cells will develop into other organs and parts of the body. This cell differentiation is to crucial to fetal development, and it’s why the earliest weeks of pregnancy are considered a critical time.

If you’re exposed to toxic substances during these weeks, it can cause serious, perhaps even fatal, damage to the embryo. For this reason it’s essential that you do everything you can to avoid harmful substances, especially environmental pollutants, tobacco, alcohol, caffeine and any drugs not prescribed by your doctor. This includes certain kinds of foods, which can harbor bacteria, chemicals and other substances that could cause irreparable damage to the fetus.

Foods to avoid during pregnancy because of their possibility of being contaminated with bacteria or toxic chemicals include:

• All raw meat including uncooked seafood such as sushi and raw shellfish, along with and rare or undercooked beef or poultry;

• Deli meats, pate, and smoked seafood such as lox, nova style, kippered, or jerky;

• Fish tainted with mercury such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish, and fish exposed to industrial pollutants from local streams and lakes;

• Raw eggs or any foods that contain raw eggs such as, mayonnaise, Caesar dressings, Hollandaise sauces and homemade ice cream or custards,;

• Imported soft cheeses such as Gorgonzola, Brie, Feta, Camembert, Roquefort, and Mexican-style cheeses like queso fresco and queso blanco, unless their labels clearly say that they are made from pasteurized milk;

• Unwashed Vegetables. Salad is great, just be sure to wash all your vegetables thoroughly before eating.

3rd Week of Pregnancy

Here we are at Week 3 of your pregnancy, and you still may not know for certain that you’re pregnant. Remember, your pregnancy is calculated from the day you started your last menstrual period, not from the date of ovulation or when you think you might have conceived during your fertile period.

You may not yet have missed a period, and you may not yet feel the pregnancy symptoms outlined in the Week 2 article, such as nausea, breast tenderness and frequent urination. Your hormones may not yet have built up to a level where body changes are detectable.

While your body may not be visibly reacting, the embryo that will become your baby is busy multiplying and expanding, even though it’s still invisible to the human eye. In fact, at this stage the embryo doesn’t even look human – it’s just a group of cells about size of a pinhead.

The big event during Week 3 is what happens after fertilization, when the sperm and egg combine in conception. Each reproductive cell contributes half of a human’s 46 chromosomes in their genetic make-up. Three days after the sperm and egg unite, a 9-cell embryo forms.

During Week 3, the ball of cells that makes up the embryo is located inside a cavity that will become the amniotic sac. The fetus floats in the amniotic sac, cushioned from outside shocks, as it develops over the next 9 months. So by Week 3, amniotic fluid is beginning to gather around the ball of cells that comprises the embryo. A primitive circulation system of tunnels connects the embryo to the uterine wall so that the little ball of cells is getting nourishment from the mother’s body. The placenta that nourishes the fetus won’t develop for another week or so.

One pregnancy symptom you might notice at this point is a small amount of vaginal bleeding. This bleeding, often called “implantation spotting,” is thought to occur when the fertilized egg burrows into the lining of the uterus. Remember, the uterine lining, rich with blood and tissues, is what your body discharges each month as your menstrual period when you don’t conceive. If this bleeding occurs, it typically happens about 6 days after fertilization, or close to the end of Week 3.

If you have attempted to conceive during this time, it’s vital to prepare yourself for pregnancy whether or not you’re sure of your condition. Adopt a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition and exercise, but get your doctor’s clearance before starting any exercise regimen. Even if your health habits haven’t been too good before pregnancy, you can adopt better habits during pregnancy if you proceed gradually. This means don’t try to run a marathon if you’re just getting into speed walking. If you’ve been active, however, you can keep to your existing routine, realizing that you’ll have to modify your workouts as your pregnancy proceeds.

Even as you finish up Week 3, you still won’t know for sure whether you’re pregnant. Even the most sensitive pregnancy tests can’t verify your condition until at least three days after the expected date for your next period. So keep anticipating, and behave as if you were already pregnant, because you just might be in Pregnancy Week 3!

2nd Week of Pregnancy

So it’s around 10 to 14 days since your last fertile period, and you’re beginning to be aware that your body is feeling, well, different.

You’re groggy and fatigued. You’re having trouble sleeping, partly because you have to get up and go to the bathroom more often. You may have a metallic taste in your mouth and feel nauseated. Even your breasts are becoming tender to touch.

There’s a reason for all these symptoms. You’re pregnant!

Actually, there’s a lot more going on. First, your body is producing enormous amounts of a hormone, Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin – just call it Beta-hCG, it’s lots easier. Beta-hCG ramps up your output of estrogen and progesterone, which are the hormones that show positive if you take a pregnancy test.

The first thing to do is tell your partner. The next thing to do is make an appointment with your family doctor or gynecologist to get medical confirmation that you are indeed pregnant. Who you give the good news after this is up to you two parents-to-be.

What you might not expect are the mixed emotions you suddenly feel. On the one hand, this is what you wanted. At the same time, 40 weeks from now when a healthy baby is born, your life is going to change radically. It’s not uncommon for a mother-to-be to have mood swings during this early period of pregnancy, so father-to-be should be prepared to comfort her with lots of tissues, hugs and kisses. Don’t think this is something that only your partner or spouses will experience, gentlemen; she didn’t get pregnant on her own, and you’re going through the next 40 weeks with her. Think of it as good training for fatherhood.

In fact, it would be a good idea if the two of you could take a weekend away together, just to enjoy the fact that you’re going to be parents. Relax together (but no alcohol!), talk about your hopes and fears and dreams. Practice giving each other foot rubs or massages; they’re great for relieving pregnancy stress.

Meanwhile, in Mom’s uterus, your little zygote (fertilized egg) has burrowed into the uterine lining. Its two original cells (ovum and sperm) begin dividing and multiplying to become a blastocyst (a collection of cells). The blastocyst is made up of an inner cell mass that will become the embryo, surrounded by another cavity that will turn into the amniotic sac. The outer cell body will become the placenta.

Now the little blastocyst will separate into two parts, the amniotic cavity, also called the yolk sac, and the embryo. The amniotic cavity protects and nourishes the embryo until the placenta forms completely in about 8 more weeks.

During your first visit with your obstetrician, you may be surprised when he or she suggests you start sleeping on your left side for the rest of your pregnancy. There are some good reasons for this posture: it brings the best blood flow to your uterus, which is what feeds, supports and nurtures the fetus.

To make yourself more comfortable, put an extra pillow between your legs. Later in pregnancy, you may want a pillow against your back as well for support. Ask for whatever makes you feel better, Mother-to-be, because what helps you helps your baby!

1st Week of Pregnancy

You wouldn’t expect this, but your pregnancy actually begins with the day your last menstrual period started. Yep, it will be two weeks before conception (assuming it occurs during this cycle), but that’s how the doctors calculate it to determine your delivery date. Go figure!

If you’re trying to get pregnant, the time to begin healthy habits is before you conceive. Eating right, with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, along with plenty of pure water to keep your system hydrated, is a good idea at any time and especially when you’re pregnant. Regular exercise is another healthy habit that will make it easier for you to conceive, to carry a baby to full term, and to deliver without complications.

You should also stop smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol or using drugs recreationally before you try to get pregnant, to give your body time to flush these toxins out of your system. All of these habits can lead to pregnancy complications, such as low birth-weight babies, premature delivery, mental impairment from fetal alcohol syndrome and stillbirth.

You can further improve your chances of making a healthy baby by starting to take extra folic acid before you become pregnant. Folic acid is a key ingredient that encourages good brain, nerve and spinal development in the embryo.

So you and your partner have timed intercourse to coincide with your most fertile time, and now there are thousands of sperm swimming toward the fallopian tube to meet one egg. While several sperm may penetrate the outer layer of the ovum, only one sperm will enter the egg and fertilize it. That’s when the chromosomes from the mother and father combine to create the genetic makeup of the embryo. At this point the potential baby’s gender is determined, depending on whether the sperm carries an X chromosome or a Y chromosome. Yes, it’s Dad who determines whether the nursery will be pink or blue.

This early period is also when it’s possible to hit the baby jackpot with multiple fertilized eggs, known as zygotes. This can occur if the mother releases not one, but two or more eggs from the same ovary, or one egg from each ovary, and these ova are fertilized by separate sperm. Depending on how many eggs are fertilized, this situation results in “fraternal” multiples, from twins on up. However, if a single fertilized egg performs the miracle of dividing into two or more completely separate zygotes, this results in multiple babies considered “identical.” In this case the zygotes have exactly the same chromosomal combination, so they’ll be the same gender and have the same physical characteristics.

Yet while this activity is going on inside your womb, Mom-to-be, you may not even be sure that you’re pregnant! In most cases, women don’t begin to experience signs of pregnancy caused by changes in your hormone balance until 10 to 14 days after conception. The earliest signs of pregnancy include increase increased fatigue, failure to start your next menstrual period, nausea, tenderness in your breasts, a frequent need to urinate (caused by pressure against your bladder as your uterus enlarges), a metallic taste in your mouth and sleep disturbances.

If you’re having any of these symptoms, congratulations! You’re probably pregnant, and should see your gynecologist immediately.

Many methods available for baby gender prediction or selection

There was a time when wise women, grandmothers and even astrologers claimed they could predict a baby’s gender. These days, it’s doctors who are the experts in baby gender prediction or selection, and methods have never been more accurate.

Medical studies show that around 30 percent of new parents still want to be surprised by their baby’s gender. The remaining 70 percent of parents will jump at the chance to learn a baby’s gender before birth.

Many times there are valid medical reasons for wanting to know a baby’s gender in advance of birth. Certain genetic diseases, such as hemophilia, are sex-linked. For instance, the genes for hemophilia may be carried by the mother without visible effect, but the males in the family can experience the full-blown disease. History has shown how devastating this can be. Part of Russian society’s resentment of its imperial family, the Romanoffs, stemmed from the influence wielded by the monk Rasputin over the Tsar and Tsarina, Nicholas and Alexandra, whose son Alexei suffered from hemophilia.

Thankfully, most parents don’t have to worry about such an unhappy family medical history. They simply want to know the gender of their baby so that they can prepare name, clothes, and nursery well in advance.

The most common way to detect a baby’s gender today is through an ultrasound scan. This is a relatively simple, non-invasive test performed at the 12th week of pregnancy or later. The ultrasound machine emits high frequency waves that enable a doctor or technician to get a picture of the fetus inside the uterus. If the test can get a clear view, this test can predict a baby’s gender with 99 percent accuracy.

Another method used to determine a fetus’s gender is amniocentesis, although this is a test that’s normally used to look for disease or fetal abnormality. In this case, a sample of the amniotic fluid – the “water” in which the baby floats inside the placenta – is withdrawn through the mother’s abdomen using a needle. This sample is then tested for illness or defect and to determine the baby’s sex if the parents request it. However, amniocentesis can be a more hazardous test, because it is invasive; it pokes a hole in the placenta in order to extract the sample and bacteria can enter via this opening, leading to an infection. Sometimes an amniocentesis can result in a miscarriage, which is why obstetricians tend to resist this test for gender prediction unless there’s also a valid medical reason for performing it.

Another test from which a baby’s gender can be determine is known as Chorionic villus sampling (CVS). This is a test for genetic disorders that captures a small sample of the placental sac where the baby is developing. The baby’s gender can be determined in a secondary way from this test as well.

The psychological effects of learning a baby’s gender in advance can be tremendous for some people. Some people who have several sons and dearly want a daughter may be dismayed if they find their coming baby is another boy. There are also families in which large inheritances still only pass to boys instead of to children of either or both genders. If you are parents-to-be face none of these pressures, then by all means get the doctor to tell you the baby’s gender.

Health tips can help in conceiving a baby boy or girl

Some couples can get pregnant right away, while others work towards their goal for months without success. Here are some tips that can help in conceiving a baby boy or girl.

1. Relax. This may seem like a no-brainer, but the stress of failing to conceive as you want can lead to a downward spiral of dashed hopes and depression that makes conception even harder. Men as well as women can become stressed over failing to achieve a pregnant because they think it reflects on their masculinity. Banish those negative thoughts! The best way to overcome stress related to trying to conceive is for both of you to practice yoga, deep breathing or other stress-relieving techniques together.

2. Learn the woman’s menstrual cycle. This can be accomplished by several methods involving keeping good records from the start of one period to the start of the next. Your chances of conceiving a baby boy or girl increase when you can pinpoint a woman’s fertile period. These techniques could involve tracking her body temperature, checking the condition of cervical fluid or other methods to determined ovulation.

3. If you smoke tobacco, drink alcohol or use illegal drugs, now is the time to quit. These practices have been shown to interfere with conception, as well as being bad for both you and your baby!

4. Use sexual positions that will help sperm travel up the vagina to fertilize an egg. In particular, avoid those positions in which the woman is on top of the man, as these angles will allow more semen and cervical fluid to leave the body.

5. Place a pillow beneath the woman’s hips during sexual intercourse to give the sperm more time to travel past the cervix.

6. Engage in sexual intercourse first thing in the morning. Most men have the highest sperm levels in the mornings.

7. Enjoy yourselves. Medical studies have found that a woman’s orgasm results in an alkaline condition in the vagina, which is more favorable for sperm than the organ’s typical acidic state that’s meant to repel bacteria. Furthermore, if both of you reach orgasm at the same time, this increases the opportunity for sperm to pass the cervix.

8. Men should avoid either constricting or overheating their testicles. Studies have shown that sperm counts decline if a man wears tight pants, brief underwear instead of boxers, or in some cases rides a bicycle frequently while wearing tight clothing. A man who is trying to impregnate his partner should also avoid using hot tubs and saunas, since excess

9. Some doctors recommend cutting back on dairy products. The “milk sugar” known as galactose can sometimes be harmful to ovarian function at high levels. Women who can’t metabolize galactose properly should get their calcium from fortified juices, beans, green leafy vegetables, and enriched flour rather than dairy products.

10. Finally, both partners should exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. Keeping your bodies functioning well will ensure that you can make a healthy baby together.

Checking cervical fluid can aid conceiving a baby boy or girl

A couple who want to have a body have several methods available to them to help assure conception. One of these is to track the quality of the woman’s cervical fluid, which can aid in conceiving a baby boy or a baby girl.

The cervix, or entrance to the vagina, secretes cervical fluid. The hormone estrogen produces this fluid during the first phase of a monthly menstrual cycle, called the follicular phase.

Cervical fluid plays a crucial role in conception, because it helps to keep sperm alive for as long as five days. The fluid protects the sperm from the vagina’s naturally acidic environment and helps the sperm move up the fallopian tube so that it can fertilize an ovum, or egg.

To check cervical mucus, wipe the vaginal area with a tissue and observe what’s on the tissue. Then close the tissue around the sample you’ve collect and open it. Does the fluid sample appear to “stretch?” If the sample is thin and “stretchy,” you are at your peak time of fertility. This should be your optimal time to have intercourse in order to conceive.

Another way to get a sample of cervical mucus is to wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap, and then insert two fingers into the vagina and pulls out some fluid. (Don’t do this if you think you might have a vaginal infection). Again, observe the sample for the characteristics listed earlier to determine fertility. In addition to being thin and stretchy, the fluid can be clear or iridescent in color. If the fluid has a bad odor, however, this can be a sign of a vaginal infection, and you should see your doctor right away.

In order to be sure of what you’re seeing when you check samples of cervical fluid, it’s a good idea to check the fluid at other times during your menstrual cycle so you become familiar with the differences.

In State 1 after the conclusion of your period, the cervical fluid appears sticky or gummy. This stage lasts two to three days.

In Stage 2, lasting two to four days, the cervical fluid changes to appear creamy or milky, similar to lotion. This signals the start of your fertile period.

At Stage 3, the cervical fluid begins to look like the white part of an egg, showing the thin and stretchy appearance. At this point, you are very fertile and likely to conceive if you have sexual intercourse as soon as possible. Women in their mid-20s are likely to have this “egg white” cervical fluid for as long as five days, while women who are in their mid-30s or older may only experience this stage for one to two days. That’s part of the reason that conception can be so much harder when the woman is older.

At Stage 4, the cervical fluid turns moist or sticky, or the cervix may seem dry altogether. This means that conception did not occur, and that you are infertile until the next ovulation period.

Some women can have a condition known as “hostile cervical mucus.” This occurs when the mucus becomes too sticky and thick for the sperm to penetrate it. This type of mucus also can become much too acidic for sperm to survive. Among the ways to overcome hostile cervical mucus:

• Drink at least 10 glasses of water daily.

• Stop smoking and cut down on caffeinated drinks.

If you’re taking a medication that dries up mucus in your sinuses, such as antihistamines for allergies, these can also dry up the mucus in your cervix. See if you can cut back or skip this medication around ovulation time to improve the condition of cervical mucus.

There is one final and quite surprising home remedy that can help the condition of hostile cervical mucus: Robitussin cough syrup. Robitussin typically is taken to loosen mucus resulting from colds, but it also works to thing hostile cervical mucus that is too thick. Robitussin contains guaifenesin, which is the active ingredient that loosens mucus. It can be found in generic cough syrups as well, but be sure to check the label to see that guaifenesin is the only active ingredient. Doctors suggest taking two teaspoons of Robitussin three times a day for five days prior to expected ovulation. Drink a full glass of water with each dose to help mucus production.

Track body temperature to help with conceiving a baby (boy or girl)

Trying to get pregnant without success? One of the ways that medical experts recommend to aid conceiving a baby (boy or girl) is to track your base body temperature, or BBT.

Your BBT is your temperature you make any move in the morning. You must take your temperature as soon as you wake up in the morning (yes, even before going to the bathroom) in order to chart your most likely fertile period.

The process works like this:

First, purchase a good basal thermometer and leave it on your nightstand. This is a type of thermometer that only registers from 94 to 100 degrees, but is marked in one-tenth of a degree increments for easy recording.

Next, set a scheduled time to take your temperature. Most likely, this will be the time that you usually wake up. It’s very important with this method to take consistent readings. If you wake up early, add one-tenth of a degree (.1) to your temperature for every half hour you’re early. If you oversleep, then subtract one-tenth of a degree for each half hour. You can only use these adjustments if you’re within 90 minutes of your usual wake-up time. That’s because your BBT rises as the day goes on.

Once you’ve taken your temperature, WRITE IT DOWN! This step can’t be emphasized enough. Try as you might, you will never remember what your temperature was yesterday. The only way you will be success in conceiving a baby (boy or girl) by using this method is to write down your temperature every day, so that you will know when your are ovulating.

It’s also important to chart your temperature to see if you can spot any patterns in your cycle. Some women exhibit what’s’ known as a “triphasic” pattern. Your BBT will be at its lowest at the beginning of your menstrual cycle, typically around 97 degrees F. When you ovulate, you should notice a rise in your temperature of about half a degree (or more). Your temperature will stay at this higher level throughout the two-week Luteal Phase, which is the time period between ovulation and the start of your next period.

During the Luteal Phase, the ovary forms a mass of yellow tissue called the corpus luteum. This mass release the hormone progesterone, which signals the uterus to prepare for the possibly implantation of a fertilized embryo. Your temperature will remain slightly elevated throughout this phase.

The third level of temperature (the “triphasic pattern”) occurs around six to nine days after ovulation if implantation occurs.

One reason it’s important to record and chart your BBT for a few months is because you’re most fertile two to three days before your temperature rises and on the day your ovulate. An ovum (egg) will only survive up to 24 hours, and often only 6 to 12 hours, so it’s important to have intercourse 12 hours before you ovulate.

Although sperm can reach the fallopian tube where the egg is traveling within minutes of intercourse, the sperm actually needs about half a day in the uterus in order to become capable of fertilization. That’s because technically sperm are foreign cells to a woman’s body, and unless the become becomes used to them, they may be rejected. That’s not what you want if you’re trying to conceive, so you need to give sperm their 12 hours of adjustment in the uterus.

In addition, you need at least 10 days of higher temperatures after an egg releases so that a fertilized egg has enough time to attach itself to the uterine lining. The typical Luteal Phase lasts 12 to 14 days, and you can verify that yours falls into this range by charting your temperatures. If you find that your post-ovulation temperature doesn’t stay higher for at least 10 days, you may have what’s known as a Luteal Phase defect, so consult with your doctor immediately. There are ways to increase your Luteal Phase so that you can improve your chances of conceiving a baby (boy or girl).

If you find your temperature has remained higher for 18 days, congratulations! It’s likely that you’re pregnant, and you need to make an appointment with your doctor right away to assure a healthy pregnancy.