Pregnancy Diet

Twin Pregnancy Symptoms- Early Flips And Flutters And Other Indicators

2008-01-28T23:45:00.000-08:00

Before we go into twin pregnancy symptoms, let us look into how twin babies are made.

How are twin Babies Made?

Twins occur, when two separate eggs are produced in one menstrual cycle and fertilized by two separate sperm.

Identical twins occur, when a single egg fertilized by a single sperm, splits into two eggs after conception. The twins will resemble each other completely, physically.

The Symptoms of Twin Pregnancies

The early pregnancy symptoms that tell you, you are going to have twins are

The increase in the size of the uterus can be a strong indicator that you are going to have twins.

For some women, the feelings of morning sickness manifest themselves very strongly, but in others, morning sickness does not occur that frequently, in a twin pregnancy as compared to a previous single pregnancy.

Too much fatigue and tiredness- A woman may feel extremely tired when she is having twins. She may attribute the cause to doing household chores and other things, but it could mean that she is having twins.

Fetal Movement- Many mothers believe they know that they are going to have twins, when the babies start to move and kick inside. While doctors do not completely agree with this one, mothers feel ‘they just know’ they are having a twin pregnancy

An alphfetoprotein test (AFP) - Doctors may do this test on you and if it comes high, it means there could be a problem if you are having a single baby, but it could also mean that you’re having a twin pregnancy. The next step would be to do an ultrasound

Twins can be diagnosed in the early weeks of conception, by an ultrasound test

Finally, twins stretch the belly and so there are more chances of the mother having varicose veins, urinary problems, or piles.

Those were the symptoms of a twin pregnancy. If you’re having twins, perhaps it’s twice the amount of love care and bouncing baby joys for you.

Teen Pregnancy- Why Does It Occur

2008-01-28T23:35:00.000-08:00

What is Teenage Pregnancy?

Teen pregnancy refers to an under aged girl or a girl who has not reached adulthood becoming pregnant. Teenage pregnancies occur all over the world, though some would say the trend in diminishing slowly.

Why Do Teenage Pregnancies Occur?

But why do pregnancies occur in teenagers. Is it because, they have low self esteem and don’t love themselves enough at this age? They could be less educated, have little or no information about birth control or just try to want to be every thing their mother’s weren’t.

Talk and Communicate With Your Near and Dear Ones

A survey conducted said that, those teens that had parents who had the time and the inclination to talk things over with them, had fewer chances of getting pregnant in their teens. A survey also said that, female teenage depression was double that of males at 18 years of age. This could also lead to a high incident of teenage pregnancies.

The stress to keep up with their peers often causes teenager girls to have unprotected sex. This may be done under the influence of alcohol to numb them.

Symptoms in a Teen Pregnancy

Symptoms in a teenage pregnancy are the same as a normal pregnancy stages, but they may be more intense.

If you think you Are Pregnant…

If you are a teenager and think you are pregnant, go in for a pregnancy test at once. Buy a pregnancy test kit from a chemist or go in for an online pregnancy test. Also, go to a good obstetrician and have yourself checked up. If you are in the early stages of pregnancy, you may even prefer to terminate your pregnancy.

The important thing in a teenage pregnancy is also to have someone near and dear to you to talk to. A healthy support system is important. Also read a lot of informative books, magazines and other articles about pregnancy, to stay well informed and ensure the baby inside you stays safe and healthy.

First Response Home Pregnancy Test- Easy Testing At Home For Pregnancy

2008-01-28T22:32:00.000-08:00

There have been tremendous advances in the field of medical science. Today, you can get your blood sugar levels or your blood pressure checked, sitting in the comfort of your own home. Similarly, you can also get a first response home pregnancy done in the privacy of your home. This can be done with the help of an easy to use home pregnancy test kit.

The basic principle behind the first response home pregnancy test kit is the testing for the hormone HCG or human chrorionic gonadotropin in the woman’s urine. This hormone is a special pregnancy hormone. The hormone is produced when the fertilized egg gets implanted in the uterus of the mother. A missed period is the usual sign that you are pregnant; however, it could also mean that you are under going stress or have some other problem. Therefore, the best way is to do a home pregnancy test if you have missed your period. During the early stages of pregnancy, HCG is produced in concentrated forms and the best time to test for this hormone is with an early morning urine sample. If you do the test a few weeks later, there will be enough HCG production and you can do the test any time of the day.

How to Use a Test Strip

A home pregnancy test is very easy and convenient to use. The kit should be brought to room temperature before using it. Collect a fresh sample of your early morning urine in a plastic cup or container. Dip the strip into the container for a few minutes. When you take it out, if it shows positive that means you could be pregnant.

Reasons for the Test Going Wrong

Some of the reasons why a first response home pregnancy test could go wrong are because of miscalculation of the date of the expected period, if the stick is not properly saturated or if you have unknowingly consumed medicines containing HCG.

So that’s how easy it is to do a first response home pregnancy test.

Third Trimester Of Pregnancy- Getting Ready For D-Day

2008-01-28T22:15:00.000-08:00

The third trimester of pregnancy is a difficult phase for the mother to be. The baby is growing bigger in the mother’s womb and she may feel breathless and want to frequently pass water, as the uterus exerts pressure on the urinary bladder. The mother may suffer from a swollen face and ankles, tender breasts and heartburn. Any signs of too much swelling or too much weight gain should be reported to the doctor immediately, as this could mean complications in your pregnancy. Your sleep pattern could also be disturbed during this time.

Weight Gain

You will gain about 25 to 30 pounds by the end of your pregnancy, out of which your baby will be about 7 ½ pounds. You will probably gain about a pound a week or three to four pounds in a month.

Your Rapidly Developing Baby

The fetus grows in the womb at this stage at a rapid pace. Its brain is developing fast and so are its five senses. Your baby has less space to move in the womb and so you do not feel its movements too much. Your baby practices breathing inside you and is able to respond to a high-pitched voice. The baby may now drop down into the birth canal in its birth position. This will give some relief to you. You will be able to breathe more freely, because of the reduced pressure on the lungs and rib cage.

You And Your Doctor

This is the time, when visits to your doctor will increase. You must visit your doctor at least every tw weeks during your third trimester. Ask your doctor questions, clear your doubts on labor and a caesarian section. Ask him if you are going to have a caesarian section or a vaginal birth. If you prefer to have a vaginal birth, what sort of medication can you take for pain relief during labor?

You must also read up good books and magazines to help you stay well informed about your condition, health and delivering a safe baby at the end of your third trimester of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Nutrition and Vitamin Supplements

2007-12-03T02:24:00.000-08:00

Pregnancy Nutrition and Vitamin Supplements

Pregnancy Nutrition is very important for the growing infant inside the mother’s womb. The mother and the child require vitamin supplements to keep their bodies healthy during pregnancy. In fact, a mother to be may be asked to start on certain vitamins, even before she conceives, during the pregnancy planning stage itself.

Prenatal Vitamin Supplements

These specially designed prenatal vitamin supplements are only for pregnant women. These forms of pregnancy nutrition contain higher amounts of the B vitamin folic acid and iron in them. However, you must ensure that you do not take any vitamins without asking your doctor. You must make sure to purchase your vitamins from a reputed manufacturer. It is also very important to stick to the prescribed dosage.

Folic Acid Supplements during Pregnancy

Folic acid aids in the formation of red blood cells. It is very essential for the healthy growth of the fetus. It prevents serious abnormalities of the brain and spinal chord. Babies who lack folic acid may be born with severe birth defects.

Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplements During Pregnancy.

Omega 3 fatty acids aid in the formation of a healthy brain and body of the baby in side the mother’s womb. It is generally believed that, fish is the only source of Omega 3; however this has been proved wrong. Tofu, flaxseeds, walnuts, canola, and wax seed are excellent vegetarian sources of omega 3 fatty acids. You must have foods rich in omega three fatty acids, however do consult your doctor on the amounts you need to consume to stay healthy.

Herbal Supplements during Pregnancy

You may have certain doubts and fears about taking herbal supplements during pregnancy. Used as flavorings and in teas they are fine but avoid taking concentrated quantities in the form of pills. They may be toxic. In fact, you must ask your doctor before taking any form of pregnancy nutrition supplements. It will help you have a safe pregnancy.

Pregnancy Diet- Its Importance Cannot Be Underestimated

2007-12-03T02:19:00.000-08:00

Pregnancy Diet- Its Importance Cannot Be Underestimated

A person’s diet during pregnancy stages can have a huge impact on the outcome of the pregnancy. If a healthy baby must be born, the mother must eat healthy. After all, the food provides nourishment to the mother and baby and helps the fetus grow into a 71/2 pound little baby.

The First Trimester

You must eat freshly cooked green leafy vegetables, legumes, or pulses and have lots of fruits and fruit juices as part of your pregnancy diet. Eat three small meals a day, instead of heavy meals and avoid fried, fatty foods, as they are more difficult to digest and sit in your stomach longer. This is especially true during the first trimester, when you could be suffering from morning sickness and nausea. Also, drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day, so that you do not get dehydrated.

Vitamin Supplements

The importance of nutrition during pregnancy for a mother cannot be underestimated. You must have a regular intake of folic acid supplements in your diet. You should start as early as three months before you conceive. Folic Acid is a B vitamin that prevents serious abnormalities of the brain and spine. Without folic acid, your baby is at risk of premature delivery, improper growth of the fetus and low birth weight. The other nutrient that is necessary is calcium, for healthy bones and teeth. It also helps build a healthy muscular, circulatory, and nervous system. You must also eat a lot of protein in your diet. The doctor will recommend multi vitamins after a health check during the three pregnancy stages

Avoid the Dangerous Three

The other important thing is to completely avoid drinking, smoking and doing drugs. Drinking can seriously damage the reproductive system of both males and females. Drugs will waste away the baby inside you. As far as smoking is concerned, research says that there is a 64% increase in chances of birth defects in the infants whose parents smoke. Even passive smoking can be dangerous to your unborn child and may result in a baby with low birth weight.

Therefore, it is important that your diet during pregnancy be right to be able to bear a healthy baby.