Study Pregnancy - Moving From the First Into the Second Trimester a lot more
A normal pregnancy lasts around 37 to 42 weeks, or an average of 40 weeks from the first day of a woman's last period.
Pregnancy is divided into thirds, called trimesters. It's an easy way to describe and earmark the changes that happen to both mum and baby during pregnancy.
The first trimester is week one to week 12, the second is week 13 to week 27, and the third is week 28 to week 40.
Many couples choose not to tell many people their news until the woman enters the second trimester of pregnancy. There can be several reasons for this. One is that the first trimester is the time when the majority of miscarriages occur so women feel more secure in their condition once they are through the first trimester of pregnancy.
Some women may of course sail through the first trimester without even having any signs of pregnancy so for them the pregnancy starts at the beginning of the second trimester.
Some couples choose not to share their news to give them time to settle into the idea and share this wonderful secret between them, or to shorten the length of time that friends and family are "waiting" for the happy event. Forty weeks can go very slowly for some people.
It's usual for pregnant women to feel quite different in their second trimester.
At week 14 it is possible you could still be experiencing nausea. But in the majority of cases morning sickness and fatigue should now have passed and mums-to-be should experience a more energetic phase with possibly an increased libido!
There are other physical changes as a woman moves from the first trimester to the second trimester of pregnancy; your breasts should be less sensitive and as the uterus grows your belly will be pushed out and the pregnancy more visible.
At this stage mums-to-be will start planning ahead for the birth, but you mustn't neglect your own needs and must continue to look after yourself.
Continue with your healthy diet and exercise and try to avoid the baggy old sweat pants look because if you feel good about your appearance you will take more care of your body.
You may be experiencing some strange food cravings - although these can occur at any time they are more likely to start during the second trimester of pregnancy. Whatever foods make it onto your wish list now, just remember that you don't need to eat for two.
Keep to a healthy diet and you won't have to struggle with losing unwanted baby weight after the birth.
Pregnancy TrimestersTag :
Pregnancy - Moving From the First Into the Second Trimester
Read through Pregnancy and Scoliosis much more
Scoliosis is a deformity of the spine that causes a sideways S- or C-shaped curvature to develop over time. Scoliosis is not a reason to avoid pregnancy. It does not cause any major risks to the fetus or physical limitations to the child. The effects of pregnancy on patients with scoliosis are examined in terms of increased risk of progression of the curvature of spine. Some studies show that patients lost 2, 6, and 18 degrees of correction during their first pregnancies. But the curves stayed the same or were enhanced with later pregnancies.
There is no evidence that scoliosis damages fertility. It does not lead to an increased number of spontaneous abortions, stillbirths or congenital malformations. Before 1950, it was believed that pregnancy would make scoliosis worse. Over the past 40 years, several studies have been done in hundreds of women with the disease. It shows that pregnancy, labor, delivery and fetal complications are no different in women with scoliosis and without the disease. In addition, surveys of relapse rates and MRI scans verify that pregnancy considerably reduces the possibilities of a relapse.
Generally, scoliosis does not increase during pregnancy. As the pregnancy hormones dampen the activity of the immune system, the symptoms of this disease are often stabilized during pregnancy. It does not provide any adverse effects on the period of pregnancy and the ability to deliver children. The pregnancy progress is uncomplicated and the baby grows normally. Compared with normal patients, pregnant patients with scoliosis may experience greater back pain. They require detailed monitoring of the disease and fetal security. Increased use of assistive devices to walk and the use of wheel chair are advisable. Certain drugs used in the treatment of scoliosis cause birth defects, and are to be avoided.
Bladder and bowel problems may be a problem for women with scoliosis who already have urinary or bowel dysfunction. Weakness due to scoliosis may prevent sufficient pushing at the time of the birth. It results the use of forceps or suction assistance. Supportive treatment and rehabilitation for scoliosis are especially important throughout pregnancy for reducing weakness and back or neck pain. The best ways to keep healthy are proper nutrition, rest, exercise and prenatal care. The guidelines provided by an obstetrical care provider and neurologist should be followed.
PregnancyScoliosis [http://www.WetPluto.com/Adult-Scoliosis.html] provides detailed information on scoliosis, adult scoliosis, congenital scoliosis, infantile scoliosis and more. Scoliosis is affiliated with Back Pain Relief [http://www.WetPluto.com/Back-Pain.html].
Pregnancy and Scoliosis
PregnancyGo through The Systems of an Early Pregnancy more
There are quite a few Symptoms that could help you with the early stages of pregnancy. The more Symptoms that you have the greater the chance you have of being pregnant. Please note that if you have any concerns about your health you should speak to a qualified person.
The majority of pregnant women have early Symptoms but a few have no Symptoms of an early pregnancy except they their menstrual period. There have been times when a women have been so busy or stressed that they have been unaware that their period was due or even forgot that they missed it.
Missing a menstrual period might indicate you could be pregnant.
Your period was late or had mild spotting rather than your normal period.
Experiencing morning sickness first thing in a morning may also indicate pregnancy.
Your food may taste differently or feel a dislike or even the urge to eat certain foods. This is also an early sign.
Breasts may also become tender and may even start to enlarge.
You may also become tired and find your energy level dropping.
You or partner may also note a change in your moods and even a swing in them. This may indicate a change in your hormone levels.
You may also not an increase in the trips to the toilet. You may or may not have any pain when urinating. If any pain is associated with this please ask a doctor for advice as there are other causes for this that have nothing to do with pregnancy.
You also may have an increase of headaches that are a result of hormone changes and also may also indicate an early pregnancy.
Pregnancy - The Diagnosis
If you have one or more of the above systems and are sexually active then you will need to purchase a home pregnancy kit. You will need to read and follow the instructions included with the kit. It may tell you to test your urine first thing in the morning as this is when your is at its most concentrated to see if you are pregnant or not. These tests are very sensitive and very accurate. A positive test will mean you are pregnant and a negative may not be conclusive, if you did it incorrectly or did not do it in the early morning.
What Now
If the test show a positive result you should seek medical advice, your doctor may advise another test to confirm your results. You will also need to discuss your pregnancy plans. You will also need to discuss any medications that you are currently taking
It is also recommended that you eat a balanced diet and not to miss meals. You may want to reduce or stop smoking and also reduce or stop drinking alcohol.
You should also seek medical advice if your period did not come within the next month, there may be a medical condition.
The Statistics
65% of all pregnancies are unplanned.
25% of all pregnancies ends in a miscarriage.
25% of women choose to terminate their pregnancy.
Discovering your pregnant can be a very welcome experience in your life or it can be a very serious stress and at time pose a very real health risk to both mother and baby.
PregnancyPaul Hardy http://www.our-pregnancy.co.uk
The Systems of an Early Pregnancy
PregnancyExamine Pregnancy - Conceiving Tips - Five Foods That Can Kill Your Fertility more
Eating the right foods is essential to fertility, but these won't do any good if you keep on eating foods that damage your chances of pregnancy. Conceiving is a delicate process that involves environmental cues, hormonal balance, and physiology. It's so easy for the wrong foods to disrupt these events and prevent the union of an egg and a sperm. By avoiding these five foods, you can boost the fertility of yourself and your partner and increase your own chances of a healthy pregnancy too.
Sugar
Sugar and refined carbohydrates are a big no-no for fertility, especially if you are suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). According to the Nurses' Health Study, the largest study on nutrition and female fertility, women who eat more refined sugar are more likely to suffer from fertility problems. Our body's glucose levels rise whenever we eat refined carbohydrates or sugar. As the glucose levels rise, the body produces the hormone insulin so the cells can use the glucose for energy. Foods with a low glycemic index allow the body to go through the glucose slowly, but refined sugar (foods with high glycemic index) causes the blood glucose levels to rise too quickly. This makes your insulin levels stretch out too thinly and adds stress to your body. If you keep a regular diet of refined sugar, your body will eventually become insulin resistant. This means that your cells will no longer respond to the insulin produced by your body, skewing the hormonal production required for timely ovulation and interfering with your chances of conceiving. Research shows that up to 70% of women with PCOS are insulin-resistant.
Trans-Fats
Chips and fries may be crispy and satisfying snacks, but they're also rich in an industrially created fat called trans-fat (trans-fatty acids or partially hydrogenated oils). Trans-fats are found in packaged goods, fried fast food, microwaved popcorn, or vegetable shortening in order to extend their shelf-life. Any commercial good that has "partially-hydrogenated vegetable oil" or "shortening" in the ingredients label probably has trans-fats. The Nurses' Health Study found out that women who ate more trans-fats were suffered from more ovulatory problems than women who did not. In fact, just a 2% increase in trans-fat consumption makes a woman 73% more likely to suffer from ovulation-related infertility. Trans-fats affect fertility by making the body more insulin-resistant and causing inflammation. In men, high trans-fat levels make the membrane of the sperm cell less flexible, decreasing its ability to successfully penetrate an egg cell.
Soy
Reports show that too much soy protein can decrease male and female fertility. A study published in Human Reproduction looked at the sperm samples and soy intake of 99 men with unexplained infertility. Researchers discovered that over half of the men had poor sperm motility and low sperm count. The researchers also observed that the men with higher sperm count and better sperm quality had lower soy intake.
Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that high soy consumption can decrease the levels of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and increase menstrual cycle length.
Caffeine
Like most hardworking people, you probably like starting your day with a strong cup of coffee. But you might want to cut back on this and other caffeine-laden drinks. According to the Nurses' Health Study, women who consume over 400mg of caffeine a day (one eight-ounce cup of coffee has 100-300 mg caffeine) are more likely to be infertile. Caffeine causes the fallopian tubes to tense up and slow down the movement of a fertilized egg towards the uterus. Once the egg finally reaches the uterus, the endometrium may not be healthy enough to receive it.
You can keep your morning cup of coffee and your fertility too; as long as you consume less than 300mg of caffeine a day, you should be fine. Do take note that soda is also laden with caffeine; the Nurses' Health Study notes that women are 50% more likely to experience ovulation problems if they drink two or more cans of soda a day.
Aspartame and artificial sweeteners
Here's another reason to avoid soda, especially diet soda: they contain an artificial sweetener called aspartame that affects fertility. According to Pediatrician and Professor Dr Louis Elsas, consuming aspartame before conceiving increases the likelihood of neurological problems in the child. When aspartame enters the intestines, it gets broken down into a chemical called phenylalanine and becomes concentrated in the placenta, causing developmental problems in the growing baby. Dr. Maledon Price of the University of Washington also notes that aspartame destroys the neurons that regulate the release of hormones, causing low levels of the FSH, LH, and gonadotropins. Aspartame is also known to impact sperm production and egg quality.
Diana Farrell is an author who holds a Masters Degree in Psychology as well as advanced training in a number of alternative therapies. Through her own journey overcoming infertility she discovered a wealth of information that can greatly improve a couple's chances of fulfilling their dreams of parenthood. If you would like more valuable pregnancy - conceiving tips and secrets, visit http://pregnancysuccessprogram.com
Pregnancy - Conceiving Tips - Five Foods That Can Kill Your Fertility
PregnancyExamine Pregnancy Nutrition: Basics for the First Trimester much more
Pregnancy nutrition can seem overwhelming during the first trimester, when you are dealing not only with the emotional impact of having a baby, but a host of hormonal changes as well. Most expectant mothers want to change the food for pregnancy they eat overnight, but making drastic changes can actually backfire and cause more stress than incorporating lifestyle changes slowly.
In this article, we cover the four basic facets of first trimester nutrition so that you can begin to make adjustments in your diet as you can, without stressing out over major lifestyle transformations.
Making the Switch to a Healthy Diet
In a perfect world, you would switch to an all-organic, whole food diet even before you get pregnant, or at least in the weeks after you discover your pregnancy. But this is reality, and making this transformation can be difficult.
You should aim for eliminating all processed and non-organic foods from your diet because they can lead to a plethora of health issues for you and your baby. On the other hand, this is not an all-or-nothing kind of deal. Begin by choosing organic and all-natural meat and dairy products, as they contain the highest levels of hormones and pesticides that you should eliminate from your eating plan.
Then try removing processed foods from at least one meal per day. Taking these small steps can have a profound impact not only on your health and wellbeing, but on your baby's development as well.
Cutting Back on Sugar and Caffeine
If you are like most pregnant moms, you want to eliminate caffeine and sugar, and artificial sweeteners from your diet. But doing so can be difficult because our bodies become chemically dependent on these substances over time. For caffeine, experts agree that you can safely ingest 150mg per day during pregnancy, so aim at first to cutting back to that amount. Once you've made it there, then you can try cutting it out of your life completely-but continue to do so slowly.
For sugar and artificial sweeteners, you're in luck-there are a range of all-natural sweeteners available to satisfy your sweet tooth. Agave syrup, raw honey, xylitol, and stevia can sweeten your meals and beverages without the caloric punch of sugar or without the troubling chemicals that artificial sweeteners contain.
Dealing with Morning Sickness
The first trimester of pregnancy is notorious for being the trimester most associated with morning sickness. As your body adjusts to the hormonal changes of pregnancy, you may find yourself overwhelmed by nausea at any point during the day, though mornings are the most common time period.
If your nausea is incapacitating, you should talk to your OB/GYN about treatments. There are natural treatments available if you want to manage it on your own. Ginger is particularly good for calming nausea, but don't indulge in ginger ale, which is high in either sugar or artificial sweeteners. Instead, slice some ginger root and boil it to make a tea, then sweeten with stevia and sip slowly throughout the day.
Eating protein can also help with nausea, though you may not feel up to eating meat while you are sick. Try a handful of raw nuts or a spoonful of nut butter and see if that helps to ease your morning sickness.
Handling Stress with Grace
The next nine months are the most wonderful but also the most stressful months of most women's lives. As your body changes and your hormones continue to adjust, you may feel overwhelmed with stress. Try to find a way of dealing with this pressure that suits your personality. For some, yoga is the answer, while others prefer journaling. One mother might prefer dinner out with friends while another might treat herself to a prenatal massage. No matter what the method, find a healthy way to cope with stress, and begin using it during this first trimester for the best results.
Are you looking for the best advice for pregnancy nutrition? Need advice on the best food for pregnancy? Visit http://whattoeatwhilepregnant.com for exercise recommendations and eating tips for a healthy pregnancy.