Pregnancy Diet For A Healthy Motherhood

Pregnancy, the most vital phase in a women's life, makes her go through several psychological, emotional and physical changes. With the evolving baby in your body, your body begins to demand more from its average intake of diet. This is where a balanced pregnancy diet bridges the gap for extra nutrients that your body requires for a healthy pregnancy.

Plan Your Diet Wisely

Although the demand for nutrients increases during pregnancy, but it is always wise to plan and choose food from various food groups. Ensure that your nutrition during pregnancy has food like vegetables, fruits, grains, pulses and milk products which are rich in calcium, protein, Vitamin A,B and C. Apart from these food combinations you have to ensure that you have certain nutrients which are vital for you and your child's growth during your pregnancy stage. For the sake of ease let us list down the nutrients which play a significant role in our pregnancy diet:-

Folic Acid In Pregnancy Diet

Folic acid, better known as Folate, is rich in vitamin B and is found mostly in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, orange juice and kale(type of Cabbage). Folate prevents your child from serious abnormalities of the brain and spine. Lack of Folic acid leads to inadequate growth of the fetus, underdeveloped brain, incomplete closure of spinal cord, preterm delivery and low birth weight.

Calcium in pregnancy diet

Calcium is another important nutrient, which should be a part of your pregnancy Diet. Calcium is used by the body. When a women's body begins to lack in calcium, the body itself begins to take calcium from the bones needed for the baby, thus making the bones weak and in the end fragile enough to break (osteoporosis). Having dairy products like fat free milk, hard cheese, green leafy vegetables like kale, fortified food like Orange juice and cereals will help you overcome your deficiency for calcium.

Iron In Pregnancy Diet

During your pregnancy period, the need for iron intake also increases. Iron in our blood helps carry oxygen to the blood cells. During pregnancy women have blood in excess volume, so this excess blood requires an excess amount of iron. During pregnancy not just your blood cells but your growing child's cells require oxygen, this is where again the demand for the amount of oxygen is fulfilled by iron.

Lack of iron leads to Anemia, which can result in preterm delivery or low weight baby, excessive low iron could make your child anemic in infancy. Iron deficiency can be made up by having red meat, shellfish, beans, potatoes and iron fortified cereals.

Concerns On Pregnancy Weight Planning

Pregnancy weight has always been a matter of concern for women during pregnancy. Weight varies from women to women and from pregnancy to pregnancy, so you need not worry too much.

If you are underweight try to gain a little weight as underweight women mostly have underweight babies. Doctors normally try to ensure that you gain weight through your pregnancy diet. If you don't your body fat is used to support pregnancy.

If overweight you obviously do not want to gain more, but losing weight during pregnancy is not a good idea as it could affect your child. Thus, overweight women should try not to gain anything more than 15 pounds throughout their pregnancy.

On a closing note, have a balanced and disciplined pregnancy diet for a happy and healthy motherhood.

40 Weeks Of Pregnancy Information - An Overview In The Form Of A Week By Week Guide

Week by week pregnancy information is necessary and such information helps the would-be mothers and her partner to cope with this exciting period of their life. There are many anxieties and issues a would-be mother confronts during the pregnancy cycle and a few weeks beyond that. If the women have week by week information related to all aspects of pregnancy, the pregnant woman and her family is aware about the various physical and emotional changes that are expected during the stipulated time frame.

Pregnancy Calculator Week By Week

The pregnancy calculation, for the above-mentioned purposes, is done such that the pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of LMP i.e. the Last Menstrual Period. Therefore, as per this calculation procedure, in the first two weeks of pregnancy, there actually is no pregnancy. The eggs do not fertilize till about two weeks and the baby is therefore actually expected within 38 weeks of fertilization.

Stages Of Pregnancy

The 40 weeks of pregnancy are divided into three stages viz., first trimester pregnancy, second trimester pregnancy and third trimester pregnancy. The first trimester includes weeks 1 to 12, the second section includes weeks 13 to 26 and the last trimester stretches form week 27 to the day of delivery, which is approximately around week 40. The maximum a pregnancy period could stretch is week 42.

All 3 sections of the pregnancy wheel are divided keeping in view the specific characteristics shared by the weeks. The first few weeks, for example are considered as extremely sensitive and therefore are marked as high-risk weeks. The second trimester charts out the baby's development in a spectacular way. The third trimester, besides continuing to provide information about the baby's development, also prominently includes the drastic changes the mother's body undergoes in an attempt to prepare for final pregnancy delivery.

Expected Pregnancy Due Date

There is no precise pregnancy calculator that can perhaps chart out the exact pregnancy due date. All that pregnancy due date calculators can do is possibly generate an expected date of delivery and in only very few instances is this pregnancy due date correct. There are various circumstantial factors affecting pregnancy birth and even the most learned of health care practitioners would not predict any specific date.

The Overall Structure Of Weekly Pregnancy Information

The ideal week-by-week pregnancy information or guide should cover the entire 40 weeks and each week should enumerate the minutest development the baby undergoes. The information further should include the changes mothers experience and the way their body transforms to give birth to a newborn. The 40 weeks of pregnancy further touch upon various pregnancy and childbirth related issues like, what kind of maternity clothes to buy, pregnancy exercise, baby shower favors, early pregnancy symptoms, how to get rid of stretch marks, etc. Concisely a good week-by-week pregnancy guide should encapsulate all that your pregnancy puts you through.

Various Types Of Pregnancy Tests

With the advancement of technology, pregnancy tests have also become more and more reliable and easier to carry out. Over the counter home pregnancy tests are also as effective as the tests carried out at the primary health care provider's office. These tests are the starting point for you to make an appointment with your primary health care provider, if you test positive. It's important to immediately undergo other tests in order to check whether the pregnancy is normal or if there are any abnormalities such as an ectopic pregnancy.

Types Of Pregnancy Tests

Urine Based Tests: These tests are most popular and more convenient than the other types. All that you need to do is to purchase over the counter urine home pregnancy test kit. Normally this consists of a cup into which the woman has to urinate and a special stick that has to be immersed in the urine for a specific amount of time. If you follow the instructions correctly as given along with the kit, you'll come to know whether you are pregnant or not. The results are fairly accurate most of the time. Most clinics also adopt this method of pregnancy test.

There is another method of urine pregnancy test in which the woman has to hold a special stick in the stream of urine for a specific amount of time. This is a much neater type of test and is preferred by most women. This method can also be used as an early pregnancy test since it can detect the presence of hCG pregnancy hormone as soon as the embryo has attached itself to the uterine wall.

Blood Tests For Pregnancy: Blood tests are normally more reliable and are carried out by doctors in order to detect human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG), the presence of which indicates that the placenta has started to grow as a result of the attachment of the embryo to the uterine lining. This can also be found out through urine tests but blood tests are more reliable. Normally the doctor runs more tests to check your overall health so that proper prenatal vitamins and medications can be prescribed to keep you and your growing baby healthy.

Blood tests are preferred by most couples who have had infertility problems and are anxious to find out whether the pregnancy test results are positive as the blood test can be done as early as seven days after a probable conception. It's also important to undergo a blood test as the level of hCG can be measured very accurately and possible complications or problems can easily be identified. The blood pregnancy test should only be carried out at a doctor's office although it might entail the high cost of the visit and the tests. You could also visit women's clinics for pregnancy tests if you want to reduce the expenditure.

The expectant mother should also undergo further regular tests even after the pregnancy tests have revealed that she is normal and has a healthy pregnancy. These tests are normally scheduled by the doctor and expectant mothers should be aware of them and their implications. These tests are: Complete Blood Count (CBC) test that checks for anemia or any other abnormality; Urine analysis test that checks for undesirable elements such as infection, blood, protein or any other harmful product; RH factor; Immunity from German measles; tests for sexually transmitted diseases; blood glucose test; pap smear; and screening for bacterial and viral infection.
Pregnancy tests are essential to ensure the good health of the expectant mother and the growing baby.

A Teen Pregnancy Can be a Crisis

A pregnancy web site is an excellent resource for women of all backgrounds and ages, especially in the case of teen pregnancy. A pregnancy web site can let a girl know the first month symptom of pregnancy and very early sign of pregnancy she may be experiencing so that she can early on get proper medical attention and advice.

For a pregnant teen the information on a pregnancy web site from first month symptom of pregnancy to very early sign of pregnancy can be invaluable in what most likely is an emotional and difficult time. Teen pregnancy statistics tell us that babies born in the United States to teenage mothers have a higher chance for school failure, poverty and physical or mental illness. While that is not good news for an expecting mother to hear, it will perhaps help influence the future decisions that young mother may have to make. Teen pregnancy can be a crisis for a young mom and it is very important that if a teenager finds out she is pregnant she immediately seek out assistance, through a visit with a medical doctor or counselor who can answer her questions and provide proper medical attention.

A pregnancy web site is also a confidential way for a teen to look up a first month symptom of pregnancy and a very early sign of pregnancy that she may be experiencing and have a chance to think about her current situation if she is indeed pregnant. There are also great message boards available on a pregnancy web site some of which may include; new moms, expectant moms, raising babies and single mothers. There are plenty of pregnancy web sites with information to include:

    * baby name finders,
    * due date calculators,
    * prenatal (morning sickness and prenatal care),
    * childbirth (birthing methods),
    * breast feeding (benefits of, techniques),
    * postpartum (postpartum depression and postpartum exercises)
    * and new trends in labor pain medications.

A pregnancy web site is so very helpful at letting a teenage girl know that she is not alone in what she is going through.

Some other information a pregnancy web site on teen pregnancy can include are facts such as how teen pregnancy rates are a lot higher in the United States compared to other developed countries. Each year approximately one million teenage women become pregnant with the majority of those pregnancies being unplanned and about one quarter of those teenage mothers having a second child within two years. While these pregnancy statistics teen seem somewhat overwhelming it can be noted that overall the teen pregnancy rates have declined in recent years.

A pregnancy web site can be an excellent tool when a girl may be experiencing a first month symptom of pregnancy or very early sign of pregnancy. It can be easy to confuse first month symptom of pregnancy as they can be similar to a woman's regular pre menstrual signs such as swollen tender breasts, fatigue, feeling bloated, cramping and implantation bleeding (which may be mistaken for a normal period). Some of the other earliest possible sign of pregnancy can include; increased saliva, headaches and a change in libido (increase or decrease).

A pregnancy web site may offer advice on first month symptom of pregnancy and very early sign of pregnancy and when a woman will start to experience these symptoms. A woman will usually start to notice symptoms a couple of weeks after conception (twelve to fourteen days) unless a woman is carrying twins, triplets or more as they will have higher levels of pregnancy hormones in the system. If a woman has already had children it is likely that her body will be more sensitive to the hormones and she'll feel the symptoms sooner.

A pregnancy web site can reveal first month symptom of pregnancy, earliest possible sign of pregnancy and very early sign of pregnancy with the top ten pregnancy signs being:

   1. basal body temperature remaining high,
   2. missed period,
   3. frequent urination,
   4. food aversions,
   5. sensitivity to odors,
   6. nausea (feeling like you don't want to eat or keep any food down) and vomiting,
   7. implantation bleeding (easily mistaken for a regular period) or cramping,
   8. tender swollen breasts,
   9. fatigue (waking up in morning feeling like you haven't slept)
  10. and of course the positive home pregnancy test.

While a pregnancy web site may be an invaluable tool to a teenage girl who is dealing with a pregnancy it cannot replace the advice, support and care that a proper medical doctor or counselor can provide. Once a teenage girl finds out that her first month symptom of pregnancy and very early sign of pregnancy are in fact pregnancy she should make sure that her nutritional, emotional and other needs be properly met. Teen pregnancy without a doubt can be a difficult and emotional time and at the earliest possible sign of pregnancy should be met with the right support and care of family, friends and physicians.

What You Need to Know About Tubal Pregnancy

What is a tubal pregnancy?

An ectopic pregnancy, commonly known as a tubal pregnancy, is a pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants itself somewhere other than the uterus. It is referred to as a tubal pregnancy because 95% of ectopic pregnancies occur when the fertilized egg is unable to travel all the way through the fallopian tube to the uterus, and therefore implants itself in the tube.

Of all ectopic pregnancies, 1.5% are abdominal, 0.5% are ovarian, and 0.03% are cervical. None of these places are suited for a growing baby. As the fetus grows, it can eventually burst the organ that contains it, causing severe internal bleeding, and endangering the mother's life. Unfortunately, a tubal
pregnancy will never develop into a live birth.

Although there have been advances in surgical technology that have caused the death rate due to tubal pregnancy to drop since 1970, there is still a death rate of about 1 out of 2000, with about 40-50 women dying each year in the U.S.

What causes tubal pregnancy?

There are many reasons why an egg may become lodged in the fallopian tube. It is most often caused by an infection or inflammation of the tube that partially or entirely blocks the passage. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is the most common of these infections.

Endometriosis, when cells from the lining of the uterus detach and grow elsewhere in the body, can cause blockages. Scar tissue from previous pelvic or fallopian surgery can also lead to tubal pregnancy. Less frequently, abnormal growths or birth defects can alter the shape of the tube and obstruct the egg's progress.

How will I know if I am having a tubal pregnancy?

It can be difficult to recognize symptoms of tubal pregnancy since many of the early signs mirror those of a normal pregnancy, such as missed periods, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, or frequent urination.

Some of the symptoms more specific to tubal
pregnancy are:

* Pain in your lower belly

* Slight bleeding from vagina

* One-sided pain in your stomach

* Shoulder pain (which may be caused by internal bleeding irritating your diaphragm when you breathe)

* Bladder or bowel problems

* Feeling light-headed or faint, sometimes accompanied by paleness, increased pulse, diarrhea, and falling blood pressure (caused by blood loss)

* Abnormal bleeding (heavier or lighter than usual and prolonged, or dark and watery, almost like prune juice)

* Lower back pain

If you experience any of these symptoms you should go directly to the emergency room. If you arrive at the hospital complaining about abdominal pains, you will most likely be given a pregnancy test. Urine pregnancy tests are not necessarily the best pregnancy tests, but they are fast. Speed can be crucial in dealing with a tubal pregnancy.

If the pregnancy test comes back positive then your doctor will probably perform a quantitative hCG test to measure the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin in your body. hCG is a hormone produced by the placenta which shows up in the blood and urine as early as 10 days after conception. Its levels double every day for the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Lower-than-expected hCG levels could indicate a tubal pregnancy.

You will be given a pelvic exam as well, to find the areas causing pain, check for an enlarged, pregnant uterus, or locate any masses in your abdomen. The doctors will probably also perform an ultrasound examination, which would show if the uterus contained a developing fetus or determine whether there are masses growing elsewhere in the abdomen. Unfortunately, the ultrasound may not be able to detect every tubal pregnancy.

There is also a more rarely used test for tubal pregnancy, called culdocentesis, which is used to check for internal bleeding. This test is performed by inserting a needle into the space at the very top of the vagina, behind the uterus and in front of the rectum. If there is blood or fluid found there, it most likely comes from a ruptured tubal pregnancy.

What can be done about my tubal pregnancy?

Treatment for a tubal pregnancy will depend on its size and location, and on whether or not you would like the ability to conceive again.

If caught early enough, a tubal pregnancy may be able to be treated with an injection of methotrexate, which would dissolve the fertilized egg and allow it to be reabsorbed into the body. This non-surgical approach results in minimal scarring of the pelvic organs.

A tubal pregnancy that is further along will likely require surgery to be removed. In the past, this operation would have required a very large incision across the lower abdomen, which may still be necessary in cases of emergency or severe internal injury.

However, modern technology has bestowed upon us an alternative method of removal. In many cases, the vtubal pregnancy can be removed using laparoscopy, a much less invasive surgical procedure. The surgeon makes a small incision in the lower abdomen and inserts a laparoscope, a long, hollow tube with a lighted end. This allows the surgeon to see internal organs and insert other instruments as need. The tubal pregnancy is then removed, and the damaged organs are repaired or removed.

Regardless of which procedure is used, the doctor will want to continue seeing you regularly, to monitor your hCG levels, which should return to zero. This may take up to twelve weeks, but if the hCG levels do not decline, it could mean that some of the ectopic tissue was missed and may need to be removed using methotrexate or additional surgery.

How will this affect my future pregnancies?

About a third of women with a previous tubal pregnancy will have trouble conceiving again. This depends mainly on the total amount of damage and surgery that was done.

If the fallopian tubes remain intact, chances for a successful pregnancy in the future are about 60%. Even with only one fallopian tube, chances can be greater than 40%.

The risk of a repeat tubal pregnancy is increased with each subsequent tubal pregnancy. After your first one, you face about a 15% chance of having another.

Am I at risk of having a tubal pregnancy?

Those most at risk of having a tubal pregnancy are women between the ages of 35 and 45 who have had a PID, a previous tubal pregnancy, surgery on a fallopian tube, or infertility problems or medication to stimulate ovulation.

Some birth control methods may also increase your chances for a tubal pregnancy. If you become pregnant while using progesterone intrauterine devices (IUDs), progesterone-only oral contraceptives, or the morning after pill, you may be more likely to have a tubal pregnancy.

If you think that you may be at risk of tubal pregnancy, talk to your doctor about it before attempting to conceive. Although there is nothing that can be done to prevent tubal pregnancy, if monitored closely it can be detected early.

If you are pregnant and experience any of the symptoms of tubal pregnancy, contact your doctor immediately. Tubal pregnancy is just one of those things that you want to have checked out, even if you only have so much as a hunch. It can't hurt to be sure, and it may save your life.

Could You Be Pregnant? Spotting Early Pregnancy Signs

Are you hoping for an addition to the family? There are many early pregnancy signs that will pre-warn you of a new arrival long before it's time to buy a home pregnancy testing kit.

Do You Have These Signs?

If you are in tune with your body's rhythms you could spot the signs as early as 6 to 12 days after conception.

Here are some of the signs to look out for.

If you've been feeling so tired that you can hardly get through the day then this may be a sign that you are pregnant. Extreme fatigue is one of the most common early signs of pregnancy and can happen within a few days of conception. 

Physical Changes

Another common early symptom is breast ten

derness and darker skin around your nipples. If your bra feels like an old-fashioned corset and you can't bear to lie on your front then this too may be a sign of pregnancy.

Women who experience breast tenderness during menstruation often also experience this when they are pregnant.

Spotting

You may also notice some spotting or light bleeding. This is normal; it happens

when the egg implants itself into the uterine wall between 6 and 12 days after conception. You may also experience some cramping at this time.

Food

If your food doesn't taste quite the way it used to, or you have cravings for strange food combinations, then these are also early pregnancy signs.

Some women experience a metallic taste in the mouth while others may get an inexplicable longing for pickles and ice cream or some other odd mixture. If this happens in conjunction with some of the other signs listed here then you might be pregnant.

Morning Sickness

While morning sickness usually happens later in pregnancy, some women experience nausea as early as a few days after conception.

Also, a few weeks after conception you might find that you have to urinate much more frequently -- in fact, you're always in the bathroom. That is also an early sign that you might be pregnant.

Backaches and headaches may also signal a pregnancy.

One of the most reliable early pregnancy signs is a missed period. This is the time to get a home pregnancy kit and confirm that you are expecting a baby.

On their own, some of these signs may not be significant, or could signal other health issues, but taken together there's a good chance that a new baby is on the way.

About Pregnancy, First Trimester Bleeding, and Blood Clots

Overview
Normally, pregnant women stop having menstrual periods, but vaginal bleeding may still occur during pregnancy. Although the bleeding can be worrisome, it is most common for women during the first trimester, the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Up to 10 percent of women may experience abnormal bleeding during a pregnancy and women expecting multiple babies have more incidences of vaginal bleeding, according to MedlinePlus. Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is abnormal and requires evaluation to determine the cause and seriousness of the condition.

Symptoms
Bleeding during pregnancy ranges from slight spotting to heavy bleeding similar to menstrual flow. Spotting may come and go or stop completely without treatment. The blood may appear pink, bright red, dark red or brown. Blood clots can also occur. In addition to the bleeding, women may experience abdominal or back pain.

Causes
Fifteen to 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage, usually within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. One of the first indicators of a miscarriage includes vaginal bleeding. An ectopic pregnancy is a condition when the embryo implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. Bleeding may occur due to a rupture of the fallopian tube while the embryo grows. Additional conditions for bleeding in pregnancy include an irritable cervix, a cervical infection or cervical cancer. As the pregnancy continues, the cervix may cause bleeding due to inflammation and irritation. This bleeding tends to be light.

Tests and Diagnosis
In early pregnancy, a blood test to measure levels of human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, helps determine if the pregnancy is continuing to develop or if a miscarriage is imminent. The hCG levels can also help determine an ectopic pregnancy. An ultrasound may help determine the cause of the bleeding. A physician may perform a pelvic exam to check the condition of the cervix.

Treatment
Treatment for bleeding during pregnancy depends on the cause for the bleeding. Some causes, such as an irritable cervix, require no medical treatment. Serious conditions, such as placenta previa or a placental abruption, need immediate evaluation by a physician to help prevent life-threatening complications to the baby.

Prevention
Preventing abnormal bleeding is not always possible during pregnancy. Eating a nutritious diet, taking prenatal vitamins and routine visits to a physician helps to increase the chances of having a healthy pregnancy. Avoiding the use of drugs and alcohol will help reduce the chances of a miscarriage.

Do Not Neglect Your Second Trimester Pregnancy Diet

There is no limit for the advice that you will get for second trimester pregnancy diet. In case you are diabetic, then you will have to follow a diabetic diet plan during pregnancy. A healthy diet ensures that you have a healthy and smooth pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby. Let us have a glimpse of what is regarded as the best pregnancy diet by doctors.

Fresh Fruits And Vegetables

Around 3-5 servings of vegetables and fruits are important for a healthy diet. Deep yellow and dark green leafy veggies are a boon for you and your baby. Keep sweet fruits handy with you, to combat cravings for sweet things. Make sure that you eat in variety to get all the required vitamins and minerals.

Lots Of Fiber

Your diet must contain lots of fiber to fight constipation, which is very common at this time. It encourages smooth bowel movement and eases this pregnancy symptom.

Diary Products

Don't forget your glass of milk during pregnancy! Remember, you need plenty of calcium during this time.

Low Fat Foods

This is not the time to gorge on that huge, spicy cheeseburger. Take a break for processed and junk food. They are loaded with fats. In case you are unable to control your craving, once a month indulgence is okay. Remember, the more pounds you put over your body, the more difficult your pregnancy will become.

Limited Sugar

Sugary foods are yummy, but unhealthy. They make you fat. And fat is always stubborn. Excessive weight opens doors for hemorrhoids, gestational diabetes, and complications.
In addition to this, keep in touch with your doctor to detect any nutrient deficiency. It can be corrected through supplements, in combination with a strict second trimester pregnancy diet plan.

Third Trimester Pregnancy - Getting Ready To Welcome Your Baby!

At last, you have reached the third trimester pregnancy stage! Good! This is the time for preparing to welcome your baby. You should get busy increasing your knowledge about childbirth and nursing so that things get easier for you as your pregnancy progresses. 

Your Baby At This Stage

Don't worry about the fetal growth of your baby at this pregnancy stage. Your baby is fully-grown.

Your Body At This Stage
Constipation, indigestion, gas, swelling of hands and face, cramps, headaches, and backache are going to disturb your peace of mind at the third trimester pregnancy stage. Avoid strenuous physical activity completely.

Ways To Combat Symptoms
Practicing relaxation techniques and taking a balanced diet are the keys to fighting the third trimester pregnancy symptoms. You should practice deep breathing and adopt a positive attitude. The happier you are, the more easily you will be able to face this tough pregnancy period.
Remember to check out your calcium levels to rule out deficiency. You need extra vitamins, minerals, and calcium in the third trimester pregnancy stage due to the increasing demands of the new life growing inside you. Stay cool. If you move or take deep breath and notice that your contractions have disappeared, then it's false labor or Braxton Hicks contractions.
The exercises and the diet that you took in the beginning of pregnancy period will show its results now. Get complete knowledge about third trimester pregnancy stage and feel the joy of becoming a mother!
You may want to check out my other guide on early pregnancy signs and pregnancy stomach.