8 Early Signs of Pregnancy

Wondering if you're pregnant? A pregnancy test is the way to know for sure. But what if it's too soon for accurate results? You may notice some subtle signs of pregnancy -- fatigue, nausea, frequent urination, and breast tenderness. Here's some expert advice on how to respond to these symptoms if you're trying to get pregnant.

1. Fatigue

"Extreme, unexplainable fatigue is probably the most common sign of early pregnancy," says Gil Gross, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

"Don't treat fatigue with excessive caffeine if there is a chance you may be pregnant." Instead, "listen to your body, take it easy, and try to keep well-rested," says Donnica Moore, MD, a women's health expert in Far Hills, N.J.

2. Food Aversions

If opening the refrigerator makes you wince and you can't even walk past the local Chinese restaurant without gagging, you could be pregnant. Many women report that such intense food aversions are one of the first signs of early pregnancy. These can be caused by rising levels of beta-hCG hormone, Moore says. The best thing you can do to help yourself through this is to steer clear of triggers.

3. Sensitivity to Smells

Scents that were never pleasant (like cigarette smoke) and even ones that were pleasing (like your partner's cologne) can make you queasy during pregnancy's early stages. "For some women, this can be a tip-off that they are expecting," Moore says. This is likely a result of rising hormone levels. Unfortunately, "there is really nothing you can do except avoid them when you can," she says, "especially cigarette smoke, which is not good for you or the baby."

4. Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting can be some of the first indications that you're pregnant. Blame it on rising hormones levels in early pregnancy.

One of the things that can help expectant moms get through their first trimester is the reassurance that the nausea and vomiting will likely pass by 19 weeks. "It also helps to know that morning sickness can be a good thing," Moore says, because rising levels of the beta-HCG hormone, which may cause morning sickness, indicate a growing pregnancy.

When you eat may make a difference, too. "The key is not to let your stomach get too empty," Moore says. "Keep crackers by your bedside and have them before you get out of bed in the morning."  It is also a good idea to eat small, more frequent meals throughout the day and a snack just before bed.  Lemon and peppermint flavored candies can also ease queasiness.

Prenatal vitamins can also trigger nausea for some expectant moms. "Don't take your vitamins on an empty stomach," Moore says. "A lot of women feel better if they take them at nighttime or with dinner."

If you are vomiting often, speak with your doctor about medication options.

5. Breast Swelling and Tenderness

Breast changes may be another early sign of pregnancy. "The best thing to do about breast tenderness is to get a better bra," Gross says.  A sports bra, for instance, can give you more support.

6. Frequent Urination

"In early pregnancy, the uterus grows and pushes on the bladder, triggering the urge to urinate more often," says Xavier Pombar, DO, an obstetrician at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

There is no way to avoid this, but going to the bathroom right before bed may allow you to get a little more sleep. "You will probably still have to get up at least once in the night to use the bathroom," Pombar says.

7. Shortness of Breath

Some women feel mildly short of breath when they first become pregnant and sometimes throughout pregnancy. "This is because you need extra oxygen due to the growing embryo," Pombar says. "The further along you are, the worse this gets. Still, don't just brush this off as a 'normal' sign of pregnancy." Talk to your doctor if you are concerned or if any of the following are true for you:

• You have a sudden onset of shortness of breath that is not associated with exercise.
• Breathing is at all painful.
• The breathless feeling is worse when you are lying down.

These can be signs of something more serious.

8. Physical Changes

If you think that you may be pregnant because you've been sexually active without contraception, make an appointment with your doctor. There are changes in the vagina's color and the softness of the cervix that an experienced clinician can identify during a pelvic exam, Pombar says.

"Remember that while these are early signs of pregnancy, these are also the symptoms of other things, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS)," Moore says. "The most reliable early sign of pregnancy is your first missed period if you have regular periods."

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SOURCES:

Xavier Pombar, DO, obstetrician, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago.

Gil Gross, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis.

Donnica Moore, MD, women's health expert, Far Hills, N.J.

Reviewed on July 19, 2012

© 2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

Tips of Hollywood beauties for pregnant women

Jessica Alba

After giving birth, do not start sport exercises before forty days. 
I practiced after birth rate of 40 minutes per day.
And varied between playing on the bike and multi-functional machine and quick exercises.

Angelina Jolie

Keep in mind that you will naturally breastfeeding your child, because milk production requires a lot of energy, as breastfeeding burns stored fat and help you lose excess weight during pregnancy, with the exception of chasing the kids and meet their needs will make you more energetic.

Jennifer Lopez

Eat five to seven meals a day, a great breakfast meal, and medium lunch meal , and small dinner meal, I do not really like to stop eating carbohydrates, but eat natural foods and closest to the organic sources.
 Choose, for example, a baked potato instead of  french fries, eat an apple instead of apple juice.

Haly Biri

For me, I avoid foods rich in sodium and fried in my pregnancy, to maintain the stability of blood sugar levels, because I suffer from diabetes.
And adopted in that period on home-made ​​soup or fish with green leafy vegetables like kale or spinach and rice.

Naomi Watts

Do not ignore the swimming pool, it is a wonderful place to practice exercises include the whole body.
Swimming trains many different muscles at the same time, which makes it wonderful, the body gets used to the sport after birth.

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How to Keep your Teeth Healthy During Pregnancy?

(HealthDay News) -- Regular dental checkups and proper daily hygiene are important during pregnancy.

The American Dental Association (ADA) offers these suggestions for pregnant women:

• Use an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth at least twice daily. Floss teeth at least once daily, as well.
• Eat healthy, nutritious foods and keep snacking on sugary or fatty foods to a minimum.
• Get regular dental checkups.
• Talk to your dentist about using an antimicrobial mouth rinse.
• Discuss any problems with your dentist, such as gums that bleed, swell or become red.
• If you have morning sickness, rinse your mouth with a mixture of one teaspoon of baking soda and water. Avoid brushing just after vomiting to prevent contact of more stomach acids with the teeth.

-- Diana Kohnle

http://www.medicinenet.com

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skin and hair problems in pregnancy

Birth Rates Good After Implanting 1 Embryo, Study Finds

WEDNESDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Among women who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) to become pregnant, there is no difference in delivery rates among those implanted with one prescreened embryo compared to those implanted with two unscreened embryos, new study findings reveal.

Although transferring two unscreened embryos is currently a more standard procedure, transferring a single chromosomally normal embryo results in fewer twins and better outcomes for both women and their babies, the researchers pointed out in a news release from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

"The technology exists today to make single-embryo transfer the standard of care across age groups, eliminating the vast majority of complications stemming from IVF, while maintaining excellent delivery rates for couples who have struggled with infertility," study lead researcher Dr. Eric Forman, of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey in Basking Ridge, said in the news release.

The study involved 175 women aged 43 or younger. The women were assigned to receive one genetically prescreened embryo or undergo a double-embryo transfer with no screening. The study showed the two groups had equal pregnancy rates. The researchers noted, however, that no twins resulted from the single-embryo transfer.

Meanwhile, 53 percent of the double-embryo transfers were multiples. Infertility treatments, such as IVF, generate 18 percent of all twin deliveries in the United States, the study authors added.

The research also revealed that transferring one prescreened embryo resulted in a longer gestation, on average. But double-embryo transfers were associated with a threefold increased risk of preterm delivery, the findings showed.

The single-embryo transfers were also associated with greater newborn birth weight, as well as fewer admissions and shorter stays in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The researchers pointed out that most women choose to have two embryos transferred because they may feel it increases the likelihood that they will become pregnant. Medical costs may also play a role because IVF is not always covered by insurance.

Now, only 10 percent of women opt for a single-embryo transfer. However, as more women learn about the success rates of single-embryo transfer, it may become a more popular option, Forman noted.

"[Single-embryo transfer] with comprehensive chromosome screening has the potential to be paradigm-shifting and revolutionary in the world of IVF," Forman suggested in the news release.

"Patients can do [single-embryo transfer] and maintain excellent delivery rates while not taking on the treatment-related risk of multiples. And for [obstetrician-gynecologists], this will mean fewer high-risk pregnancies handed off to them. It can reduce the health care burden across the spectrum," Forman said.

The study authors noted that the genetic screening used in the study is not yet widely available in the United States. They said this will likely change in the near future.

The study was scheduled for presentation Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in New Orleans. Research presented at medical meeting should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

-- Mary Elizabeth Dallas

via:http://www.medicinenet.com

Are you done with being pregnant and ready to have your baby? Whether your due date is quickly approaching or it’s already come and gone, you’re probably eager to get things moving along. But sit tight, experts say. A full term pregnancy is anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks, and most women will go into labor naturally between 41 and 42 weeks. And if your cervix isn’t ripe, your chances of having a C-section increase.

“We know if someone goes into spontaneous labor they’re more likely to have a successful vaginal delivery,” said Dr. Myra J. Wick, a board-certified OB/GYN at the Mayo Clinic and co-editor of the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.

Once your provider has given you the green light, there are some things you can try. Find out what works and what doesn’t.

Sex

The prostaglandin in semen can soften the cervix and get it ready for labor, and an orgasm can definitely cause the uterus to contract – but it may not lead to labor, Wick said. In fact, there is no evidence that sex can induce labor, but it’s not harmful either, according to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. If your membranes are ruptured, you have bleeding or your doctor told you not to have sex because of other complications, then heed that advice and hold off.

Walking

“Anytime a woman can be upright, it’s optimal for labor,” said Dr. Michelle Collins, a certified nurse-midwife and director of the nurse-midwifery program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tenn. Although walking won’t start labor, if you’re already in labor, it can definitely make the contractions more frequent.  

Nipple stimulation

When the nipples are stimulated, the pituitary gland releases oxytocin, the hormone that makes the uterus contract. According to an article in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, women who had a ripe cervix were more likely to go into labor within 72 hours if they used nipple stimulation than those who didn’t.

There are actually a variety of ways to stimulate the nipples, according to Collins, who said your provider might suggest using a breast pump, standing in a hot shower, or stimulating your nipples like you’re winding a watch. Be sure to get the OK from your provider first.

Food

Tempted to go out for Mexican food in hopes that it might jumpstart your contractions?  Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down collagen and can ripen the cervix.  However, you would have to eat a ton of it for it to work. Some restaurants even tout special dishes made with eggplant, vinegar or spices that claim to induce labor, but there’s no scientific data to suggest that it actually works, Collins said.

Acupuncture and acupressure

Known to promote healing through the energy pathways of the body, some research suggests that acupuncture and acupressure may help to induce labor.  If you opt for these methods, be sure to use a practitioner who specializes in pregnancy.

Evening primrose oil

Taken orally or massaged on the cervix, there are NO benefits to using evening primrose oil to induce labor, Collins said. In fact, women who use the oil are at increased risk for prolonged rupture of membranes, arrest of descent—or the baby not coming down the birth canal despite having contractions—and higher rates of vacuum assisted births, according to a report in the journal BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Evening primrose oil can also put you at risk for having seizures so it’s best to avoid it altogether.   

Massage

A prenatal massage can do wonders for back pain, soreness and stress, especially during labor when the contractions get stronger.  But unfortunately it won’t help to start labor.  

Castor oil

“When you stimulate the bowel, it can stimulate the uterus,” said Collins, who also noted that drinking castor oil is one of the most overused and unsafe methods women have used. Not only can it cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but you can also become severely dehydrated.

A study in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology found castor oil didn’t affect the time it took for a woman to go into labor nor did it have any adverse effects. Yet there have been case reports of fetal distress, and it can potentially increase the chances of the baby passing meconium.

Black and blue cohosh

These herbs may start contractions, but they’re not safe and using them can actually be potentially life threatening to you and your baby, Collins said.  In fact, babies whose mothers used these herbs suffered heart and cardiovascular complications, seizures and kidney damage, according to an article in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Red raspberry leaf tea

Used by Native American women for centuries, red raspberry leaf tea can help to tone the uterine muscles, and it may shorten labor and reduce hemorrhaging – but it won’t start labor. Collins suggests drinking the tea three times a day at 36 or 37 weeks of pregnancy to reap the benefits.

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Natural ways to induce labor

By Julie Revelant

Healthy Mama

Published April 28, 2013

FoxNews.com

Read more

Mental relaxation techniques for pregnant

Many symptoms appears on some women during pregnancy, to know cause of excess nervousness, loss of concentration and tension as a result of stress, so dear pregnant organize your time better allows you to take several periods of rest on a daily basis whenever you get the chance.

Has not been scientifically proven yet that long naps are required in the pregnancy, but is sufficient for you to relax for a quarter of an hour several times during the day where notify actively uncharacteristic.

There are steps to help you to relax, and effect will be like magic to provide you with very active after a few minutes:

1.  Arrangement the bed and comfortably pillow.
2.  Relax sitting or lying comfortably in bed.
3.  Close your eyes.
4.  Take a deep breath and slowly count to five then take out air after that.
5. To expel any disturbing thoughts try to focus in restoring the beautiful memories and demand happy and playful ideas, this means you will develop your ability to imagine giving your body the ability to relax. This will help both of pregnancy and childbirth. As a general rule do not wait until your body complains of excessive pain due to the accumulation of fatigue before they become most pain. Listen to your body even and rely to rest whenever you get the chance. You should note that the principle of relaxation does not mean relaxing only physical but also mental.
6. Close your eyes and imaginary scene quiet and comfortable like a large green field and beautiful flowers, and has a clear sky or view of the sea and pacific blue color (blue color that is known to help relax).
7.  Sure, you now will feel that your temper his vice and that your mind quiet.

9 Things You Need to Know About Maternity Leave

Having a baby soon? Learn how to maximize your benefits when taking time off from work.

What You’re Entitled To

Whether you’re thinking about having a baby or simply curious about the distant future—what’s the deal with maternity leave? Federal law requires your employer to give you at least 12 weeks off, but it only mandates unpaid leave. The most common reason new mothers return to work sooner than they’d like to is because they can’t afford to go without their salaries any longer.

Here’s what you need to know.

Family Leave Isn’t Just for Pregnant Women

The Family & Medical Leave Act requires most employers to give employees up to 12 weeks off for “family leave.” You don’t have to be pregnant to qualify, either; this applies to both mothers and fathers, and can be used for those who are adopting or must care for a sick relative.

You Don’t Have to Take Your Leave All at Once

You can take intermittent leave in which you leave for a while, return, and then take more leave. You can even work part-time until you’ve taken the equivalent of 12 weeks off.

Some Employers Don’t Have to Give Leave

Your employer doesn’t have to give you family leave if you’ve worked at the company for under a year, or if you’ve worked fewer than 1,250 hours during that year (that is, fewer than an average 25 hours per week, assuming two weeks’ vacation). A company is also exempt if it has fewer than 50 employees. And if you and your partner work for the same company, it’s only obliged to give the two of you a combined 12 weeks off, not 12 weeks off each.

You Must Request Family Leave in Writing

At least, in order to get your unpaid leave under federal law, you need to request it in writing at least 30 days in advance. We suggest you discuss your options with your company’s human resources department much earlier than that, such as at the end of your first trimester. Your employer must notify you within two days of the request if you are ineligible under the federal law.

One Solution to Unpaid Leave Is Short-Term Disability Insurance

This sort of insurance is relatively common: New Jersey and California provide short-term disability insurance to residents, usually funded through a payroll deduction, and a few others—including New York, Rhode Island, and Hawaii—mandate that employers offer this insurance. Short-term disability insurance can provide a portion of your salary if you are temporarily unable to work due to a medical condition, including pregnancy. Private disability insurance may cover between half and all of your salary.

Disability Insurance for Maternity May Cover Only Six Weeks, or Less

Though federal law guarantees you 12 weeks of unpaid leave, disability insurance may only cover six weeks, or even less. Also note that some employers require that you use up any vacation or sick days (during which you would collect your full salary) before disability insurance kicks in. If you’re not yet pregnant but considering a baby, now is a good time to make sure that you have short-term disability insurance and to find out the details.

Employers Must Maintain Your Insurance—But You May Have to Pay

The law requires your employer to continue your health insurance coverage during this time, but you may be required to pay for it out of pocket; after all, when you’re on unpaid leave, you’re no longer earning a paycheck from which insurance premiums can be deducted.

Know When and How to Add Baby to Your Coverage

You’ll typically have to do this within 30 days of birth in order to cover the new set of medical bills. These may arrive addressed to your child shortly after his or her birth.

Do You Have a Financial Maternity Leave Plan?

Unless you’re very lucky, taking maternity leave will mean losing at least half your salary for at least several weeks. So, while you’re still in the planning stages, get your finances in shape by setting aside a portion of your pay to use during your leave.

Ideally, we’d like you to be able to take as much time as you want for family leave, up to the federally-mandated 12 weeks, without running out of money for the things you and your baby need. If you plan ahead, you should be just fine!

This article originally appeared on LearnVest.com.

Pregnancy and Exercise

Maintaining a regular exercise routine throughout your pregnancy can help you stay healthy and feel your best.

 Regular exercise during pregnancy can improve your posture and decrease some common discomforts such as backaches and fatigue. 

There is evidence that physical activity may prevent gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy), relieve stress, and build more stamina needed for labor and delivery.

If you were physically active before your pregnancy, you should be able to continue your activity in moderation. Don't try to exercise at your former level; instead, do what's most comfortable for you now. Low impact aerobics are encouraged versus high impact.

The pregnant competitive athlete should be closely followed by an obstetrician.

If you have never exercised regularly before, you can safely begin an exercise program during pregnancy after consulting with your health care provider, but do not try a new, strenuous activity. Walking is considered safe to initiate when pregnant.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise per day on most if not all days of the week, unless you have a medical or pregnancy complication.

Who Should Not Exercise During Pregnancy?

If you have a medical problem, such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes, exercise may not be advisable. Exercise may also be harmful if you have a pregnancy-related condition such as:

• Bleeding or spotting
• Low placenta
• Threatened or recurrent miscarriage
• Previous premature births or history of early labor
• Weak cervix

Talk with your health care provider before beginning an exercise program.

 Your health care provider can also give you personal exercise guidelines, based on your medical history.

What Exercises Are Safe During Pregnancy?

Most exercises are safe to perform during pregnancy, as long as you exercise with caution and do not overdo it.

The safest and most productive activities are swimming, brisk walking, indoor stationary cycling, step or elliptical machines, and low-impact aerobics (taught by a certified aerobics instructor). These activities carry little risk of injury, benefit your entire body, and can be continued until birth.

Tennis and racquetball are generally safe activities, but changes in balance during pregnancy may affect rapid movements. 

Other activities such as jogging can be done in moderation, especially if you were doing them before your pregnancy. You may want to choose exercises or activities that do not require great balance or coordination, especially later in pregnancy.

How Soon Can I Exercise After Delivery?

It is best to ask your health care provider how soon you can begin your exercise routine after delivering your baby.

Although you may be eager to get in shape quickly, return to your pre-pregnancy fitness routines gradually. Follow your health care provider's exercise recommendations.

Most women can safely perform a low-impact activity one to two weeks after a vaginal birth (or three to four weeks after a cesarean birth). Do about half of your normal floor exercises and don't try to overdo it.

Tell us about your previous experience.

Do you exercised during pregnancy?

And any kind of sport do you prefer?  

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Exercises During Pregnancy

Exercises During Pregnancy

Maintaining a regular exercise routine throughout your pregnancy can help you stay healthy and feel your best. Regular exercise during pregnancy can improve your posture and decrease some common discomforts such as backachesand fatigue. There is evidence that physical activity may prevent gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy), relieve stress, and build more stamina needed for labor and delivery.

If you were physically active before your pregnancy, you should be able to continue your activity in moderation. Don't try to exercise at your former level; instead, do what's most comfortable for you now. Low impact aerobics are encouraged versus high impact.

The pregnant competitive athlete should be closely followed by an obstetrician.

If you have never exercised regularly before, you can safely begin an exercise program during pregnancy after consulting with your health care provider, but do not try a new, strenuous activity.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise per day on most if not all days of the week, unless you have a medical or pregnancy complication.

Who Should Not Exercise During Pregnancy?

If you have a medical problem, such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes, exercise may not be advisable. Exercise may also be harmful if you have a pregnancy-related condition such as:

Bleeding or spotting
Low placenta
Threatened or recurrent miscarriage
Previous premature births or history of early labor
Weak cervix

Talk with your health care provider before beginning an exercise program. Your health care provider can also give you personal exercise guidelines, based on your medical history.

What Exercises Are Safe During Pregnancy?

Most exercises are safe to perform during pregnancy, as long as you exercise with caution and do not overdo it.

The safest and most productive activities are swimming, brisk walking, indoor stationary cycling, step or elliptical machines, and low-impact aerobics (taught by a certified aerobics instructor). These activities carry little risk of injury, benefit your entire body, and can be continued until birth.

Exercises:

The most important exercise for pregnancy is Pelvic Floor Exercise during pregnancy. Strengthening the pelvic muscles is of utmost importance as it holds the bowl, bladder and womb in place. A strong pelvic helps in the in the second stage labour enabling contraction. Also this exercise reduces the chances of stress incontinence developed after delivery

• .To practice pelvic exercise you need to contract and release your pelvic muscles repeatedly.
• Pull in your belly button towards the spine, draw in your vagina as if trying to stop the flow of urine
• Hold this for a few seconds and then release
• Ensure your muscles are fully relaxed before repeating the procedure
• Practice this exercise for ten rounds every day

WalkingWalking is the best and the safest exercise during pregnancy. It tones your muscles, improves blood circulation, helps draw in more oxygen and relaxes mind to get peaceful sleep. Walking helps to improve your stamina during labour.

• Consider small walks at intervals during the day rather than a long walk
• Form a schedule like walk on three days in a week for 20 – 30 minutes and gradually increase the time to 30 – 60 minutes
• Maintain moderate speed while walking, do not brisk walk
• Take a ‘talk test’ while walking to assess your speed i.e. if you can say a full sentence without huffing and puffing your speed is right
• Walk with your back straight, do not lean forward or bend backwards
• Make sure you wear the right kind of foot wear while walking
• Stretch your muscles before and after walking, this improves flexibility

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Reference

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