Pregnancy, From Conception to Birth...
For some women, pregnancy is the most wonderful and joyous occasion in their whole life. For others it can be a complete nightmare from beginning to end. Are you screaming out
"Am I pregnant?"
Well lets start at the beginning, do you know that you are pregnant? or just think you are? Well if your not quite sure yet there are some signs that can be a dead give-away! Take a look at some of the first
symptoms
that suggest you are pregnant.
When you are carrying a new tiny life, some amazing changes take place in your body as it prepares you for motherhood, you may not like all of them, but you don't really get a choice!
The amazing journey you'll take while you're pregnant!
Here's a quick look at
the three trimesters,
or see below for each trimester in more detail.
It can be hard in the
first trimester.
You may feel sick, tired, moody, and that's just the start! On the bright side, take a look at how your
baby develops in the first trimester.
The
second trimester
is an altogether better time. You are coming to terms with what's happening to your body. This is a good time to do things you like doing, shop for the new baby, decorate the nursery (although don't go climbing ladders, keep your activities safe for you and baby) Fancy a look at
second trimester fetal development?
Third trimester
is slow down time. You will be getting quite big by now, and may find it impossible to get comfortable. Use this time to rest and store your energy for the up and coming birth and journey into motherhood. Want to see how your baby grows in this last trimester?
Fetal development in the third trimester.
The
timeline of fetal development
is amazing, starting with a single cell and developing into an embryo, fetus and then full grown baby. Want to see the whole growth stage?
Click here to watch a fetal development video.
It is also well worth tracking this time in your life with a tailor made
calendar!
While you're pregnant
Every newly pregnant woman should be taking
folic acid.
See the folic acid facts
here.
See what
foods contain folic acid.
Staying fit and healthy while you're pregnant will keep you and baby in good shape ready for a speedy delivery! Let's take a look at
fitness while you're pregnant,
and
exercise while your pregnant.
A nice gentle exercise for your body and 'mind' is
yoga.
It might be a while yet, but have you thought about getting back into shape
after you've had your baby?
Fancy a bit of fun before your baby makes his or her entrance? Take a look at
baby gender prediction
and the
Chinese gender prediction chart
Now you're pregnant there will be a lot of choices to make. Why not get your thoughts down on paper and write a
birth plan.
Problems you may have in your pregnancy
If your midwife mentions that your baby is lying in breech position, don't worry just yet! Have a look at what you can do when your
baby is breech.
is always a worry. See some of the reasons why this may happen.
Implantation bleeding
First trimester bleeding
Second and third trimester bleeding
Nearly every pregnant woman will experience some form of small irritating problems, let's have a look at what they are, and how you can deal with them -
here.
50-70% of women will suffer from fibroids at some time in their life. If you're pregnant and have fibroids, you may suffer from a few complications.
Fibroid problems when pregnant.
Morning sickness may strike 9 out of 10 pregnant women! How do you know if it's morning sickness?
click here to find out.
It's worth knowing some
morning sickness cures,
to help ease that sickly feeling, including some
natural
and
herbal remedies.
And let's have a look at what
causes morning sickness.
There are some major complications that can happen while you're carrying your baby, these are worth knowing about.
High blood pressure and pre eclampsia
can be a very serious condition, be aware of the facts.
Placental abruption
happens in 1% of all worldwide pregnancies. Know the symptoms just in case.
Placenta previa
isn't all that common, but it does happen to some women.
Ectopic pregnancy
is another serious condition to look out for. If this is happening to you, here are the
treatments
Fingers crossed, and I hope this never happens to you, but for the people who want to know, here are some symptoms of
miscarriage
and what happens during and after you lose a baby.
If you haven't got to the 'with child' stage yet, and you're still struggling with conception
there's some advice here
from my own personal experience. For some of us getting pregnant just isn't that easy, and knowing everything you can about ovulation and conception, will give you a great start on that baby making route!
Return from
the pregnancy page to the New baby and beyond homepage