Your Pregnancy

Some women tend to worry because their period has come late, and they are not sure if they are pregnant. Of course, the only way to make sure is to take a pregnancy test or to see a doctor. But before taking the plunge to conduct a pregnancy tests, there are some pregnancy symptoms to look out for. After all, there is a live baby growing in the womb, and the body will be undergoing some changes. Here are some symptoms to look out for.

Period coming late.

Once every month, women experience a period. Sometimes, it is common for period to be late (or early) by as much as a week. So if your period is late for a few days, there is no cause for worry. However, if you find that your period still has not arrive after a week, this is the first signal that you may be pregnant.

Feeling it in your body.

As the pregnancy takes place, the body starts to undergo some changes. For example, you may start to feel slightly unwell. It’s common for pregnant ladies to feel such changes in their body. They may not know why these changes are occurring, but they do know that something is happening inside their bodies. This may be a sign for you to check out those unusual feelings you have been experiencing lately.

Change of sleeping habits.

If you are pregnant, you may start to feel uncomfortable around your abdominal area. You start to avoid lying face down as you sleep, and you also find yourself getting tired more easily. Fatigue is a common pregnancy symptom. Your breasts may also start to swell, and nipples become more sensitive. This may cause some degree of discomfort. It is another obvious pregnancy symptom.

Feeling nausea.

This is perhaps the most visible symptom of all. Feeling nausea is not a common thing to happen. It’s only when someone is feeling unwell that he or she starts to feel nausea. But it is not always true that a woman is pregnant just because she starts to feel nausea. The nausea feeling may be caused by morning sickness or stress. However, it is always to a good thing to get to the root of the problem. If the feeling doesn’t go away in one or two days time, perhaps it’s time to consult a doctor and find out the real cause of the nausea feeling.

Feeling dizzy.

It is common for pregnant women to complain about dizzy spells. This is caused by low blood pressure and low blood sugar levels. If affected, take plenty of rest and avoid sudden movements like bending down to pick up a pencil.

Loss of appetite.

The appetite of a woman may be adversely affected due to the numerous changes going on in the body. Don’t let the body go without food for long periods of time just because there is a loss of appetite. Instead, try to take smaller meals with shorter intervals in between.

If you have a combination of the above symptoms, you are likely to be pregnant. It’s now time to take a pregnancy test or consult a doctor.

is mixed journey of mostly a lot of irritation, frustration, confusion and aching body parts. But when you hold your baby for the first time at the end of it all, everything that you have endured for the last 9 months suddenly seems worth it. You will forget all your worries and problems for that moment and feel only the tender life that you have given birth to.

For the sake of your baby and your self, it is good to monitor the changes in your body along with changes in your baby’s growth. For this, you must follow a week-by-week calendar that mentions everything that should be happening. However, these are mainly used for reference purposes. All babies go through the same stages but at different rates. So if something does not match, do not panic. Things can easily get delayed or advanced a week or two.

Here’s what to expect: -

Week 1 ? 13: Your pregnancy is measured from the day your last period began because you usually won’t know when you ovulate, let alone when you actually conceive. So in a way you are actually considered pregnant in hindsight when you weren’t on reality. At the beginning the baby is not a baby but just a fertilized egg. Then it travels down the fallopian tube and gets implanted into your ovary, which has been getting ready in the mean time.

Stop all medications at this point except those that you are explicitly told are safe during pregnancy. By week 5 your baby has grown in to an embryo through rapid cell division and is barely visible to the naked eye. By week 7, you will be able to tell whether it is a girl or a boy. By week 8, the baby has arms and legs that are long enough to allow it to hug itself. By week 10 most of baby’s joints are formed and by week 13 most of baby’s major organs have formed. You will get food cravings at this time but if you crave inedible things, see your obstetrician.

Week 14-26: By now the amniotic fluid inside the uterus is being refreshed every 3-4 hours and the baby is swallowing it and passing it out as urine. By week 15 baby’s heart is beating at twice the average human heart rate. By week 19 you will be experiencing all the signals of pregnancy, including an enlarge belly due to the large uterus. By week 19 your baby has buds for teeth and by week 20 you are halfway through. By week 26 you will be able to feel your baby through your belly and vice-versa. Your baby can see and hear things by now.

Week 27 to birth: These last weeks will see you gain the last of your pregnancy weight and your baby will be gaining the last of its newborn weight. Anything between a 2.5kg 3.8kg is a healthy baby. Girls are usually lighter than boys. Congratulations, you have finally given birth to a new life.