27 Weeks Pregnant

Congratulations, you have entered the third and last trimester of your pregnancy. If you are planning to enroll in any prenatal classes, now is the time to do so. The hospital will send you admitting forms in the next few weeks and they recommend taking child birth classes. These classes will teach you breathing techniques during childbirth and some exercises that will make childbirth a bit more relaxing than stressful. At this stage of your pregnancy, you should discuss with your doctor your birthing options.

If you have not been eating healthy all that much throughout the pregnancy now is the time to start. At the last few weeks of pregnancy, you want the baby to get as much nutrition as they can. Empty calories are not going to keep the baby healthy. Remember the food that you are eating is what is feeding the baby. Try eating a bit healthier at least until the end of the pregnancy. Try adding in more fruits and vegetables and less fried food and processed foods.

Continue to take your vitamins and stay hydrated. You want to continue to build up your immune system as well as the baby’s. Stay away from strenuous activity such as heavy lifting and anything that makes you exert yourself.

Baby’s Development

At week Twenty-Seven of your pregnancy, the baby should be about 14-1/2 inches and weigh in about 2 pounds. In the last weeks of pregnancy, the baby will gain ½ a pound per week. The baby’s skin is wrinkled only because they have been surrounded by water for the last 5 months. The baby’s skin will look wrinkled until at least a few weeks after the baby is born. The skin will stretch out and will look and feel smooth.

The baby’s retina’s are developing at a good pace, they will soon be able to help the baby adjust to light images. These layers are considered to help the brain receive light and some images as well as be able to transmit them the information of what they are seeing to the brain. The membranes that have been covering the baby’s eyes will start to separate and in a few weeks, the baby will be able to open their eyes.

As everyone knows all baby’s eyes are blue when they are born. If the eye color is going to change to another color they will do so a few weeks after birth. At this week in pregnancy the baby will continue to begin their own sleeping patterns and waking up patterns. You will soon see that their sleeping patterns are opposite as yours. Most of the time you feel the baby kick is when you are trying to get some sleep.

It has been said that baby’s start to dream while in the womb. The brain is still active and the grooves on the surface of the brain will begin appearing as the brain tissues start to develop. You will also notice the baby hiccuping more and more because the lungs are maturing and they are practicing breathing.

Changes With Your Body

At week Twenty-Seven your body will need more caloric intake. It would be safe to start with 300 to 350 calories. You will gain a bit more weight right up until the 36th or 37th week of pregnancy. By now many pregnant women think they look fat and it can be a bit depressing for them. But never alter your diet to take in fewer calories, by eating less you are depriving the baby of less calories as well.

If you have any concerns about your weight, now is the time to talk to your doctor. Remember you are also carrying a baby, so some of the weight you will loose when the baby is born. Stay on track with your prenatal vitamins and any nutritional supplements that you may be taking. At this week, the uterus is leaning on the rib cage. If notice you may be out of breath from just getting dressed everyday. This would explain why. The uterus will prevent the lungs from full expanding cause some breathing problems. Talk to your doctor but you should not worry, there is nothing to worry about.

As you enter into the third trimester, talk to your doctor about the warning signs of premature labor. This tends to happen more in the summer months due to lack of hydration. It is very important to stay hydrated, carry a water bottle around with you at all times. You may spend more time in the bathroom but you are doing what you have to, to stay hydrated.

Some of the warning signs to look for are bright red blood from the vaginal area. If you experience a sudden rush of a watery discharge from the vaginal area, contact your doctor right away. You may experience severe pain in the pelvic area or a very dull pain in the lower back. Some women have felt contractions for more than an hour or so. If your hands and feet start to swell, it could be a sign of premature labor. It is your body and you will know when something isn’t right, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

What To Expect

When you reach this stage of pregnancy, may women will feel comfortable and confident that everything is well with the baby from the baby’s movement. When we feel the baby kick or hiccup we take that as a great sign that things are OK. We tend to panic when we don’t feel anything, but don’t panic just yet. Your body may have put on some weight in the abdominal region that would cause you not to feel the baby kick.

If you think that the baby was active a bit and you aren’t feeling the same, contact your doctor right away. It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially in the last trimester. You will continue to see the symptoms of pregnancy such as constipation, leg cramps, round ligament pain and frequent urination. As you continue to go to your doctors’ appointment they will continue to monitor your blood pressure, weight gain and urine.

In the last trimester, you have to be careful of a condition called Hypertension or Pre-Eclampsia. This can be determined through the urine tests, it happens when there is too much protein in the urine. As the condition progresses, the placenta is not able to grow. It caught in time it can be treated but if left untreated it could lead to premature labor or fetal death.

Tips/Advice

This stage of the pregnancy is the important stage. You have to keep healthy both physically and mentally. Continue to take the prenatal vitamins and add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. If you feel that something isn’t right, then contact your doctor or visit your local emergency room right away.

Source : www.pregnancyweeks.us

26 Weeks Pregnant

You are now entering into the last stage of pregnancy. By now, your baby bump is showing and others will notice that you are pregnant. At week twenty-six of pregnancy, you can feel your uterus about 2-1/2 inches above the belly button. The new mom to be may be experiencing Braxton Hicks Contractions, these are tiny contractions but nothing that can cause premature birth. These contractions are the tightening of the abdomen. At this stage you may be feeling these more and more. They are perfectly normal, ask your doctor to go into a more detailed explanation about what these are and what they mean for you.

At week twenty-six you may notice that that you are feeling more tired and this is due to the weight gain. You will feel more pain and aches in the rib cage, heartburn, cramps and muscle pulls. These are all normal pains of pregnancy, but if they are lasting a longer period of time then you may want to talk to your doctor in order find out if what you are feeling is normal or not.

New moms should be keeping track of the baby’s development. This can be done by attending all of your doctor visits as they are scheduled. You may be due for some shots yourself, so make sure that whatever you need to get done that you do it before the baby is born. Most new moms at this stage are preparing their nurseries and narrowing down baby names. There is a lot to be done here but the most important thing here is to get a lot of rest. Don’t over do it.

Light exercise and activities are ok but you should limit the amount of strenuous activity that you may be used to. The last stages of pregnancy are imperative to the health of the baby.

Baby’s Development

The baby’s growth and development are picking up again at week twenty-six. The baby is about 9 to 10 inches in length and the baby weighs about 2 pounds by now. The baby is measured from crown to rump (head to bottom). The baby will soon start to open their eyes and they can even blink too. The eye development at this stage is now complete. The eye color is a pre-determined blue but after the baby is born the eye color can change.

If you have another sonogram at this stage of pregnancy, you will see that your baby actually looks like a baby. The baby’s development that is taking place this week is sense of touch and reacting to touch. The heart has started to pump blood and a more prominent heartbeat can be heard. The lungs are starting to develop blood vessels and the baby is making breathing movements like the chest moving up and down.

The circulation system of the baby is 100% fully functional. The umbilical cord has grown in size and is circulating blood to the baby. The placenta has become the size of the baby now. If the baby is a boy, the testicles will drop down to the scrotum down.

Changes With Your Body

Your body will continue to change throughout the twenty- sixth week of pregnancy. Your will experience more weight gain but your doctor should have discussed any issues that he may have had with your weight with you by now. So if you have not had that talk with your doctor then continue on doing what you are doing. Your weight gain at this stage should be about 20 to 23 pounds. But the weight may go up and down depending on water retention and bloating. The uterus is about 2-1/2 inches above the belly button and will grow even further in the next few weeks.

Some new moms to be will experience some Braxton Hicks Contractions; these are harmless growing pains that won’t have anything to do with the baby being born. Now the baby may be kicking their legs out and straightening out their arms. You may see the baby protrude from the belly. It really is an amazing thing to see. The baby depending on where he or she is sitting can cause some discomfort to you. You will have to try a position to sit or sleep in where it is most comfortable to you.

You can also alleviate these aches and pains by doing some light yoga exercise or some swimming or walking. You don’t have to over do it, but by stretching your muscles and your body, can really help you take away the aches and the pains.

What To Expect

There are so many changes to you physically in this stage of pregnancy. Some women go into a depression but keep a positive outlook. These changes are all happening because of the baby. Your body will go back to the way it was before the baby but the weight gain and all of the aches and pains are due to the baby. Remember some of this excessive weight gain is from water retention and bloating.

A few days after the baby is born, you will see some weight come off without even trying. It is important to not put any stress on your body, get plenty of sleep and stay hydrated. If you feel up to it, try very light exercises like walking or some yoga. You will feel much better about yourself if you move around a bit. If you notice stretch marks, try using a moisturizer or some cocoa butter. This will help reduce stretch marks as well as help keep your skin hydrated and smooth.

Tips/Advice

Now is a very critical stage in your pregnancy. If the doctor offers you advice or gives you some orders to follow, do them. You may feel like you can accomplish anything, you may feel great but the more stress that is put on the body is put on the baby. Remember you don’t have to superwoman; it is ok to rest every now and then.

Article Source : www.pregnancyweeks.us

25 Weeks Pregnant

You have now entered in to the third trimester of pregnancy. This is also where many physical changes happen. The baby may seem too small to be born right now but there is plenty of time left. The baby may not be gaining weight at such as fast pace anymore but there is nothing to worry about. The baby will start gaining weight, at least a ½ a pound a week until they are born. Your baby bump is more prominent than before and you will have people trying to guess if you are having a girl or a boy.

On a sonogram, you may see the baby’s hair texture, color as well as eye color one way but all of that can change once the baby is born. Your body may start to feel more achy and more tired than you did in the second trimester. You have to listen to your body, when the body says slow down; you really have to do it. The stress that you are putting on your body is being put on the baby as well. You will soon notice that you won’t be able to see your feet anymore and tying your shoes may prove to be a challenge.

As a new mom to be, you should know that there is a risk or premature delivery from this week forward. This may happen due to an incompetent cervix or an infection in the uterus. If the cervix ruptures you may be required to remain in the hospital for the remainder of the pregnancy. If the baby were born at this week, the baby would have a good chance of survival. The risk would be the weight of the baby. The baby would be susceptible to infection because of the low birth weight. This is why it is important to take it easy and take good care of yourself in this stage of pregnancy.

Baby’s Development

The baby has slowed down in gaining weight. The baby is still growing but not as significantly as before. There is no reason to panic; the growth will kick back into gear in the next few weeks. The baby’s bones are starting to harden and with the help of a sonogram, you may be able to see your baby sucking their thumb. The white coating that is protecting the baby will continue to do so. It protects the baby from the acid of the amniotic fluid and will help the baby to maintain body heat.

The baby’s taste buds are developing nicely and they can tell the difference between salt and sweet tastes. There is less room in the uterus for the baby to move so you will be feeling a lot of movement from now on. The baby’s fingernails and toenails have fully formed. The baby’s head and body have come into their own.

Changes With Your Body

At week twenty-five, you will start to notice some very light red or brown marks across the abdomen, these are stretch marks. You can avoid having anymore appear by staying active. You can reduce the appearance of these stretch marks by using a Cocoa Butter or a moisturizer. You can also take preventative measures by using a support bra and some anti wrinkle cream. Try to stay away from tight fitting clothes. These stretch marks will fade once the baby is born.

You may experience some dry eye or some sensitivity to light. You can use artificial tears or s saline solution. Ask your doctor what he would recommend. Try to adjust your diet, add more vitamins and minerals, diets that are lacking vitamins is one of the causes of dry eyes. Plus, you will get your health back faster after the baby is born.

At this stage of pregnancy, you may experience excessive heat and sweating. This can also lead to infection if you don’t stay cool during your pregnancy. Take cool or warm showers, wear clean clothes and keep your clothes fitting loosely. Stay hydrated, keep your water or drink intake high, stay away from drinks with caffeine, they will just make you more thirsty.

What To Expect

By week twenty-five, you will be taking another blood test to test fro anemia. If your doctor was concerned about this earlier he would have prescribed iron supplements. These blood tests are just precautions. Your skin may start to become itchy again like in the first trimester. The skin will stretch and cause stretch marks but as we mentioned this can be alleviate with support bras, cocoa butter and loose fitted clothes. If you experience excessive itching, your doctor may prescribe a test for liver problems or perhaps a fungal infection may happen.

The only way for any of these conditions to be diagnosed is by letting your doctor know about anything out of the ordinary that you are feeling. It may not seem like something to you but it may to your doctor. It is important for you to maintain your lifestyle now that you are in the third and last trimester. Now is not the time to slack, it is the time to step up and power through the last three months. Listen to your body that is a key to a healthy pregnancy.

If you feel tired, slow down. If you feel dizzy it means you are over doing an activity. If it means getting more rest than so be it. Remember it is for the health of the baby. This may sound easy to say but it would be important to try to maintain good posture while pregnant. This will avoid spinal problems later on too.

Tips/Advice

Listen to your doctor and follow all of these suggestions. Now is also the time to finish up any preparations for the baby’s nursery. In a few weeks, you won’t be able to travel as much or shop without becoming tired. You may also be in the stages of planning a baby shower. Make sure that you plan this at least a month or two months ahead of time. Don’t wait for the last minute; you want to be able to have a good time without feeling tired.

Article Source : www.pregnancyweeks.us

How to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night

Getting your baby to sleep throughout the night is one of the hardest task of a parent. It can be stressful and it affects both the parent and the baby. This is why most of the parents say that parenthood is not an easy job. It is easy to learn but it is definitely not easy to master. What is more suffering than your baby not able to sleep through the night? Parents like you have to stay up the whole night with your baby because your baby can't have a good night sleep. Can this be solved? The answer is Yes. Here are some steps on how you can avoid and help your baby to sleep throughout the night silently. You will be having extra sleep time too!

The first thing to do is to try to limit your baby's naps. Naps in the afternoon or anytime of the day will increase the percentage of your baby unable to sleep silently in the night. If your baby is really tired, let your baby have a nap only for a few hours, not too much. Besides taking care of what is happening throughout the day, some techniques in the night are needed to help your baby sleep throughout the night. Lavender is popular for its soothing effects so providing your baby with a warm bath with lavender is definitely helpful. Warm and soothing baths every night can help your baby to have a good night sleep. Furthermore, Lavender lotions can be rubbed on your baby's body to double to soothing effect, hence providing a very comfortable feeling for your baby. As we know, some people will drink a cup of hot chocolate before they go to sleep because it will help them to sleep better. It is advisable to make a warm bottle of breast milk for your baby before getting your baby into bed. Adults need them, so do babies.

Sleeping habits of a baby are no different from adults. When it is time to sleep, ensure that the surrounding environment is quiet and peaceful because it creates a sleeping environment for your baby, therefore easing the sleeping process of your baby. When it is time to sleep, get your baby into bed even if he is not fully asleep. You need to get your baby into a sleeping mood and let him fall asleep on his own. This way your baby is already used and associated in the dark room before and when he falls asleep. Soothing music can be played at very low volume in case your baby won't be able to sleep on his/her own. These type of music can ease the sleeping process and also works throughout the whole night. As mention before, it is important to get your baby in to that sleeping mood. Do not play or entertain your baby one hour before he goes to bed, also ensure that the environment is quite and peaceful. Doing this will get your baby to calm down his hyper active mood and therefore enabling him to go to bed in a sleeping mood. If it is done appropriately, your baby will be able to sleep all night.

The main reason for your baby waking up in the middle of the night is because your baby doesn't know how to put themselves back to sleep, adults often roll over and get over with their sleep, but babies don't. It is important to create a constant routine for your baby on when to wake up and when to sleep. Everyone has a sleep-wake cycle that we need to follow, babies also has their own cycle. Be sure to always look out for their sleepy symptoms and allow them to sleep for just a moment if it's in the afternoon. Being a parent can sometimes be tiring, but it's definitely a great experience

Max has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. You can check out his new website on Diaper Tote Bags to see which are the most stylish and latest diaper bags in the market right now. It also reviews Messenger Diaper Bags.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Damier

24 Weeks Pregnant

You are now coming to an end of the second trimester. In a few weeks you will enter into the last three months of pregnancy. You look forward to the end of the pregnancy because you want to meet your baby. But there are some huge changes to both your physical as well as mental state. As the pregnancy progresses, you will gain more weight. The uterus will continue to grow, as the baby gets bigger.

As time goes on, there won’t be any room left in the uterus because the baby will be full size and that is when you will feel every movement the baby makes. Due to the growing baby and the weight gain, you will start to experience more leg cramps and backaches. You will continue to have frequent trips to the bathroom and some fatigue.

There is still plenty of time to start the prenatal classes. These classes will discuss the remainder of the pregnancy, what to expect during childbirth and what to expect when the baby comes home. These classes are not required but they are very informative. You can start attending them now or some people wait until the 7th month of pregnancy. Check your local hospital for the class schedules.

Baby’s Development

At this week of your pregnancy, they should measure about 11 inches and weigh about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 pounds. If you have any concerns about the weight of the baby, now is the time to ask the OB GYN. The baby’s brain and the lungs are quickly starting to develop. The baby’s taste buds are coming along nicely too. The lungs are developing branches so that the special cells will produce the surfactant to help inflate the baby’s lungs.

If the baby was born at this week of pregnancy they may have trouble breathing because the surfactant is not developed enough. Babies born at twenty-four weeks may be born with disabilities and would require long term NICU care. The baby is still gaining weight and developing baby fat. This helps the baby keep in their body heat.

Some new moms to be may experience what is called Braxton Hicks Contractions. These are small contractions that you may feel from time to time in the last trimester. But don’t worry these are not like regular contractions and they will not affect the baby. When you go for your next sonogram, you will see that the baby’s face is now complete with very distinguishable features. The hair on the baby’s hair will continue to grow and the baby’s eyes are still closed. Over the next three months the baby will just continue to gain weight and grow. The baby will also start to practice breathing at week twenty-four of pregnancy.

Changes With Your Body

Now you will be able feel the top of the uterus about 2 inches from the belly. This will continue to grow as the baby grows. You may start to notice some stretch marks on the abdomen and on the breasts. You may want to use moisturizer on these stretch marks or use cocoa butter. You may notice that your eyes are more sensitive to light and they become drier than usual. You can use eye drops or maybe artificial tears to help with the problem.

By now you will physical feel and know when the baby is sleeping and when the baby is awake. It may be a good idea to rest when the baby is resting because the baby tends to be on an opposite sleeping schedule than you right now. You will also be able to feel the uterus or abdomen tighten every now and then. This will happen more in the third trimester.

Some of the other symptoms that you may notice in this part of the pregnancy are breast changes, more trips to the bathroom, constipation, itching and heartburn. You may experience round ligament pain, these are the ligaments stretching as the baby continues to grow. Some women experience very severe round ligament pain and others don’t feel it at all.

You are going to feel like you have a permanent head cold, the increased blood flow puts pressure on the mucus membranes, which causes congestion. Do not take any over the counter medications without speaking to your doctor first. Try some simple saline drops first.

What To Expect

You will be asked to take a glucose test. This test is to check for gestational diabetes. If you are diagnosed with the condition, it can be controlled and will disappear after the baby is born. Some symptoms of gestational diabetes include fatigue, nausea, excessive thirst and frequent urination. Only a small percentage of new moms to be will have GD, only about 2 % to 5%. That is why the screening is so important. The cause is due to the placenta producing too many hormones that relate to insulin resistance.

You will still experience heartburn at this stage of pregnancy. Try to avoid lying down after eating and try taking a walk after a meal. You may want to break up your meals into smaller but more frequent meals during the day. Try to avoid eating anything late at night, if you need to snack on some crackers. If you are already gaining weight at a steady pace, some women at this point may become self-conscious. Never alter your diet to lose weight while you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor if the weight gain concerns you.

Tips/Advice

Keep on following the doctors’ orders. If you haven’t started to already pick up a baby book and see what they have to offer in ways of suggestions on eating and exercise. It is never too late during a pregnancy to start exercising. If you are looking for a low impact aerobic on DVD, check your local video store or retail store like Wal-Mart or target. Stay away from exercises that cause a lot of bumping around like horseback riding.

Source : Pregnancyweeks.us

23 Weeks Pregnant

Congratulations, you have now reached the end of the second trimester. You are about to enter the last stage of pregnancy. Everything that you have done right up until this point has been right on target. Don’t stop doing what you are doing just because you only have three months left. The baby needs vitamins and nutrients right up until the second they are born. You should be excited at the aspect of having the baby very soon.

You should be gaining weight and your baby bump will continue to get bigger and bigger until you can’t tie your shoes anymore. The baby is still gaining weight at the 23rd week of pregnancy. You have to keep up with doctor appointments, sonograms and sticking to eating healthy. If you experience complications, they can be diagnosed quickly and treated before any harm is done. This can be done by listening to your body. If something doesn’t seem right, contact your doctor right away.

By now, you and your partner can enroll in prenatal classes. These classes can help you prepare for motherhood and they explain what you can expect once the baby is born. Surviving nine months of pregnancy is just the beginning. If you haven’t already done so, you should start exercising. Walking is a great way to stay in shape. Exercising can also help with the delivery of the baby as well as help you regain your pre baby figure.

It is important to start taking calcium supplements if you aren’t drinking enough milk. Calcium is important to your bones as well as the baby’s bones. Ask your doctor what other supplements that you may need to help sustain the nutrients and minerals that the baby is getting.

Baby’s Development

The baby is constantly growing and progressively gaining weight. The baby should be about a pound by now. It may not seem like a lot but babies are only born up to 8 to 10 pounds. It is perfectly normal for the baby to only be a bout a pound at this week in pregnancy. The baby should measure in at 11.4 inches. Each baby will develop differently, so if a friend says her baby weighed more at this stage, keep in mind that every pregnancy is different.

By now the baby will look like a newborn and if you are lucky enough to see a 3D sonogram image, it will change your life. The baby fat is starting to form at a very fast rate. The skin is starting to develop and gone is the transparent skin. The baby will continue to move more frequently, this is the best time of pregnancy when you can feel the baby moving around. You may see the baby suck his or her thumb on an ultrasound, it is not a coincidence, and the baby can suck their thumbs now.

The baby can now touch the umbilical cord and their own body parts in the womb. The baby will still swallow the amniotic fluid and it is dispelled as urine. The baby will be taking in more liquids and sugars as supplements. The baby can hear just about anything outside the womb. It is truly an amazing time in your pregnancy. The baby’s pancreas is developing and it has started to provide their body insulin. The lungs are developing and the baby is getting ready for breathing from the lungs.

Changes With Your Body

At this week in your pregnancy, the uterus is now 1-1/2 inches above the belly button. The belly button may start to protrude because the stomach muscles are expanding. You will have gained about 15 to 20 pounds now. Your baby bump has become more noticeable. You should be experiencing any more morning sickness and the fatigue should have subsided. If you are still experiencing morning sickness or nausea, contact your doctor immediately.

As the baby grows you will experience aches and pains associated with leg pains, cramps, backaches and food cravings just to name a few. Some women are lucky enough to go through their entire pregnancy without one once of discomfort. You will also have an increased amount of blood in the lower body. You will have the urge to go to the bathroom more often. You may have some muscle cramping as well.

What To Expect

You will have had some many changes to your body and your mental state at this week in pregnancy and you are only half way through it. Don’t worry, these changes are temporary and they will all disappear after the baby is born. The best way you handle these aches, pains and emotional changes is by having a positive attitude. If you start feeling down, call someone and get together for lunch and go shopping. Having someone else to talk to will help you greatly.

If you have started to eat better, this may be something that you may want to continue on a regular basis. Stay on track by exercising and getting plenty of sleep. Start to shop for cribs, playpens, car seats and clothes. It always brightens your mood when you start getting ready for the end of the pregnancy. Make sure that you are going to doctor appointments and you are following all of the doctors’ orders.

It is important to maintain good hygiene as well. If you sweat excessively, take cool or warm showers. Hot baths are not good for the baby. Make sure that you have your blood pressure and urine checked very time you go to the doctor. This will help keep you updated on your health and the health of the baby.

Tips/Advice

Enjoy the last three months and a few weeks of your pregnancy. Some women enjoy it from day one and others go through such a tough first trimester that it is tough to enjoy. But soon after the morning sickness subsides, you really have to take the time to enjoy it. Motherhood is a blessing and you shouldn’t take it for granted.

22 Weeks Pregnant

By now you are loving every minute of being pregnant. It is an exciting time in your life especially if this is your first born child. Now you are right in the middle of the second trimester. Most new moms to be have already started planning the baby names, getting things together for a baby shower and planning the nursery. You may have started to gain significant weight by now. Don’t be discouraged; the weight gain is for a good reason. The baby is growing at a much more steady pace. You can also start to feel the baby more and more as the weeks go by.

Though the risk of miscarriage has reduced greatly, there are some things that you should safeguard against. For example, stay away from smoking and try to avoid others that smoke too. Refrain from drinking alcohol. You want to be eating more healthy foods rather than junk foods or friend foods. Remember what you are putting into your body so is the baby. You are going to start hearing more stories from friends and family about their pregnancies. It is fun to compare pregnancies but remember that each pregnancy is different. You will not experience the same things as other moms did.

Baby’s Development

The baby is continuing to gain weight as the weeks go by. The baby should weigh about 12-1/4 ounces, if that is not the case, talk to your doctor and find out if there is a reason why the baby is not on target. Not every baby at this stage will be 12-1/4 ounces; they could be less or more. The baby will measure in at 11 inches long. If you were to have a sonogram, the sonogram would show you that the baby looks like a newborn. The head and the body are fully proportionate.

The baby is thinner and there is not a lot of baby fat. The baby should be gaining weight at a good rate now. All of the baby’s organs are developing at a fast pace. The baby’s liver has started to produce enzymes that will help the baby break down the red blood cells. The baby’s red bloods don’t have a long life while in the womb. The red blood cells travel into the placenta and then into the mom’s blood.

It is the mother’s liver that actually gets rid of the baby’s red blood cells. The baby’s pancreas is starting to develop at a nice rate. You will start to notice eyes and lips at 22 weeks of pregnancy. The baby’s iris is still not developed with color yet. You can see that the teeth are below the gum line and the brain is developing at a very fast pace.

The baby’s sensory system is developing very quickly. The brain has functioning neurons right now and the baby is actually learning sense of touch. He or she may be exploring their face or moving their legs and arms to see how they feel. If the baby is a girl, show will have ovaries and the primitive ova or eggs cells. The baby’s uterus will have been completely formed at this point.

Changes To Your Body

By now, you will see a few signs of physical changes to your body. You will feel hormone levels increasing as well as some tenderness and some tingling in the breasts. You may experience some spotting, abdominal cramps, irritability and mood swings. If this happens, you should immediately call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room. Some women have signs throughout their pregnancy and others don’t. But it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to pregnancy.

By now you should be morning sickness free and fatigue free. Though it is important to listen to your body when it comes to pregnancy. You will have increased the blood flow about 40 to 50%. As the pregnancy progresses you will have frequent urination. As the months go by the baby will start pressing down on the bladder.

What To Expect

You are continuing to experience many physical and emotional changes in the course of the pregnancy. You may want to adjust the way you are eating, try to eat healthier. Stay away from fried foods and processed foods, these can cause heartburn. You may want to take up walking after a meal or swimming every week. They are great for digestion and they are great exercise for pregnant women.

One thing that will help keep you grounded during the pregnancy is to talk with their partner, family and friends during the pregnancy. If you are having any doubts, these are the people that you want to talk to. Just by having someone to talk to can really improve your mood.

It is important to take your vitamins and attend every doctor’s appointment that you set. Try to make these appointments that you can keep. It is important that you have your blood pressure checked at regular intervals. You want to make sure that your blood is checked as well. As long as everything is OK, the baby will continue to grow and develop. Motherhood is a blessing and you should be doing everything that you can in order to make sure that your pregnancy goes smoothly.

Tips/Advice

Follow the doctor’s orders, sometimes when new moms to be think they feel fine they may over do it or try to do things at the pace they used before they got pregnant. Listen to your body and slow down if you need to. Follow up on doctor’s appointments and ask them any questions that you may have at any point in your pregnancy.

You have to remember that if you feel tired the baby isn’t going to get everything they need. If start eating on the run and do not choose the right foods to eat then the baby may suffer for it. Everything you do and everything you eat not just benefits you but the baby as well.

21 Weeks Pregnant

You are now into the second half of the second trimester. You are more relaxed and are enjoying your pregnancy more. If you are planning any long trips, now is the time to start to make plans for that trip. For the remainder of the second trimester, you will find that your pregnancy is a bit easier than the first trimester but not as hard as the third. To help alleviate the aches you may be feeling from the growth of the baby, you may want to exercise a bit or maybe try yoga. Don’t do anything too stressful. Keep it low impact.

By exercising you are also reducing varicose veins and back aches that become more common in the last trimester. You should be enjoying the pregnancy and keeping the mind healthy as well. By staying upbeat and taking care of yourself, it can actually reduce your chance of postpartum depression. You may not want to think about postpartum now but it is good to know what the signs are, you may be experiencing postpartum if you are fatigued, you are irritable, inability to handle your newborn and your hesitancy to hold your own baby may be signs of postpartum. Talk to your doctor about this condition, you are not alone it happens to thousands of women every day.

You want to stay fit as well; you can continue running and lightweight training. You want to stay away from bike riding, rollerblading and horseback riding. Walking and swimming are highly recommended. Try wearing loose fitting clothes and after sweating during exercise, always take a shower. It will reduce your chance of yeast or urinary tract infections.

Baby’s Development

At this stage the baby’s blood circulation is doing very well. The baby’s umbilical cord will grow thicker in size and increase in length. The blood will flow through the cord with more power, as the bigger the baby gets the more the blood will circulate. As you go through the second and the third trimester, the baby will grow more and more. The placenta is now almost the same size as the baby. When the doctor takes the measurement from crown to rump, the baby should be 7.2 inches and about 10-1/2 ounces.

In week 21, the baby’s digestive system will continue to develop and grow. The baby’s intestines can now relax and contract. The baby is now practicing swallowing the amniotic fluid; this will help their digestive systems mature. You may also notice that the baby will start hiccuping, it feels a bit strange at first but you will get used to it.

The baby’s eyebrows and eyelids are 100% developed. Fingernails now cover the fingertips. It has been found that newborn babies will suck faster and more intently when you are reading them a story that may have heard while in the womb. They baby may recognize sounds they heard in the womb and act accordingly when they hear it again outside the womb.

It is believed that if you read the baby classic books or spiritual books, it can have an effect on the baby. Classic music and soft sounds may prevent the baby from kicking a lot. They are calming and soothing sounds.

Changes With Your Body

At this week in pregnancy, you should be on target for 10 to 15 pounds. You may be a bit over and maybe a bit under. If you have any concerns, speak to your doctor about them. Now you will be able feel your uterus about ½ “ above your belly button and you will be happy to know that others will actually be able to tell that you are pregnant. You may notice that you are getting more leg cramps and pains in your legs. Don’t panic, this is normal. Exercise will definitely help this condition.

You can reduce leg pain at night by sleeping with a pillow right between your knees. There is something called Maternity Belts, this are designed to help prevent edema and pregnancy swelling in your legs. To take some pressure off your legs, try not standing in one place for a long period of time. You may start to feel more legs cramps, because your legs are carrying more weight due to the pregnancy. Try wearing a more comfortable pair of shoes too. By wearing sneakers or flat shows with cushions will be best at this stage of the pregnancy.

What To Expect

If you haven’t noticed by now, your appetite has increased. It is safe to add about 500 or so calories to your eating plan. Try to stay away from fried foods or even processed foods. Eat food like chicken, fruits and vegetables are a good way to add calories. If you need any suggestions, ask your doctor, they will be more than happy to give you a list of what foods are good to eat. If you are still experiencing cravings, it is ok to indulge just keep them in moderation.

If you are noticing swelling in your feet and legs it is normal, it is due to water retention. This is best alleviating by elevating your legs and feet while sitting down. Try not to stand in one place for a long period of time. The more you are relaxed by physically and mentally, the more the baby will be relaxed. The baby can sense stress at this point in pregnancy.

If you experience blurred vision, vaginal bleeding and nausea, contact your doctor right away. If you can’t get a hold of them, then you will want to go to the nearest emergency room.

Tips/Advice

While the risk of miscarriage has greatly reduced, there are still factors and considerations that have to be taken into. There is no better time to start taking care of yourself better. If you haven’t done so, try eating a more balanced diet and get plenty of sleep. The most important thing is to avoid stress. The baby can now feel exactly what you are feeling.

Article Source : www.pregnancyweeks.us

20 Weeks Pregnant

By now you are right in the half way point of your pregnancy. You are entering the second half of the second trimester and there is light at the end of the tunnel. The best part about the second trimester is that it is the easiest and most enjoyable out of all of the weeks combines. You don’t have the morning sickness of the first trimester or the fatigue and you don’t have the fatigue and the feeling of being pregnant forever like some women do in their third trimester.

By now you are comfortable with being pregnant and you should be able to tell the sex of the baby by now. Even though the sex organs are developed already, it really isn’t until week 20 or so when you can tell. You have a much better chance of catching the baby in the right position than ever before. Now that you are half way through the pregnancy, you may want to start to think about the birth. Do you want to go natural childbirth or c-section? Now is the time to discuss that with your partner and your doctor.

You doctor can take you through each choice and you have plenty of time to do some research and decide which way is best for you and the baby. By now, you can start thinking about child birth classes, these classes will teach you about giving birth but they will also teach you some relaxation exercises such as yoga and breathing exercises.

Baby’s Development

The baby has been developing at a nice, quick pace. The baby will now weight up to 4 times the weight it did from the start of the pregnancy. By now, you can also start to feel the baby fluttering in the womb. This is one of the best joys of pregnancy. Being able to feel the baby that you and your partner created. By the 20th week, you will also be able to tell when the baby is sleeping and when the baby is awake. You and the baby are on opposite schedules, you will feel the baby more around more as you are trying to sleep or lie down.

The baby should weigh about 11 ounces by now and the baby should be 6-1/2” in length. The baby will start to practice breathing without the development of the lungs. The baby is covered with light fine hair called the lanugo. This helps the baby keep their body temperature inside. The baby has developed hearing by now and may start to respond to your voice as well as the other sounds from outside the womb.

The baby’s organs and structures are still developing. The baby is covered with a white coating called vernix caseosa; this will help keep the baby’s skin safe from irritation as the baby travels through the birth canal. The baby will start to produce meconium, this is a dark green sticky matter that includes cell loss and amniotic fluid that has been swallowed by the baby with digestive secretions.

Changes With Your Body

While the baby is growing, new moms to be may start to have trouble breathing or even taking deep breaths. The lungs will become restricted with your organs as the uterus is being pushed up so are your organs. This is common and there is nothing to get worried about. If you are experiencing trouble breathing, bring it to your doctor’s attention. While you are pregnant, it is always best to be safe than sorry.

Some women experience this trouble until the last month of pregnancy when the baby starts to descend into the birth canal. At this stage of pregnancy, you should expect to gain about 8 to 10 pounds. The doctor should be monitoring your weight gain. If they have any concerns they will let you know. Don’t assume that you are gaining weight and stop eating. It is never a good time to go on a diet while pregnant. You may start to notice stretch makes at this week in pregnancy. Use cocoa butter, this not only will decrease your stretch makes but it leaves your skin smooth and hydrated.

You may notice as the baby grows that you are experiencing constipation, indigestion and some skin itchiness. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids every day. Stay away from caffinated drinks, these drinks only make you thirstier. Plus too much caffeine is not good for the baby. If you experience excessive itching it could be a symptom of a liver abnormality or a reaction to the prenatal vitamins. If you are having trouble with itching, ask your doctor they can determine exactly why the itching is happening. Try using a cold compress on the parts of skin that itch. You can make a mixture of baking soda and water. This will relieve the itching as well.

What To Expect

At this stage of your pregnancy, you should be relaxing and enjoying every minute of it. You should be both physically and mentally relaxed. Stay on target with your exercise and eating plan. Continue to take your prenatal vitamins. At this stage of pregnancy, anemia is common and if it is left untreated then it can lead to premature birth or complications. Try to increase your iron intake with foods or a vitamin supplement. Foods you can choose from are eggs, chicken, dried fruits, wheat germ oatmeal and fruits and vegetables.

Now is when new moms to be start narrowing down their list of baby names. They will also start looking at catalogs or looking online for baby items like cribs and carriages. You can also expect to find out the sex of the baby if you choose to. If you don’t want to know, make it clear to the doctor and the nurses that you don’t want to know. Sometimes it has a way of slipping out.

Tips/Advice

As the baby will continue to grow at a fast rate. You are going to experience body changes as a result of the baby’s changes. These changes are normal and if you have any concerns at all, now is the time to speak to your doctor. If you think something isn’t right, don’t hesitate to call your doctor or go to the local emergency room.

19 Weeks Pregnant

You are now into your second trimester. At this stage of the pregnancy, a few more changes are going to be taking place in the mom to be. There will also be more changes in the baby as well. This week some count as the middle of the pregnancy and by now you will have completely adjusted to the ever-changing mental and physical state of pregnancy.

As the pregnancy progresses, there is more of a chance to develop vitamin deficiencies more commonly iron deficiencies. That is why is it is more important than ever before to continue taking the prenatal vitamins as well as iron supplement that your doctor can recommend for you. You may also experience some skin problems as well. There may be rashes and brown patches if you are exposed to sunlight for a prolonged period of time.

The baby is growing more and more every week, you will now start to be able to feel the baby punching and kicking as the week’s progress. Fetal movements are how most mothers gauge the normality of their pregnancy. If you believe that something isn’t right, contact your doctor; a sonogram may be needed to calm your fears.

Baby’s Development

The baby’s development will be very specific at this week in time. The baby’s kidneys are now starting to produce urine and the baby will have some hair growing on their head. The baby’s teeth and gums are progressing nicely as well. There are some terrific developments to the baby’s brain. The part of the brain where the brain can control the senses is starting to emerge.

If the baby is a girl, she will have more than 6 million eggs in her ovaries. You will notice that the doctors will have stopped measuring the baby from crown to rump and will now measure in at head to toe. The baby should be about 7-1/2 inches long and will weight about 7 ounces.

The skeleton of the baby will continue to harden and the muscles will become stronger. If you are lucky enough to have started to feel the baby kick you will notice that the kicks can be fast at times. The baby will start to figure out where the womb starts and ends. By now the baby will start sleeping about 20 hours a day. The baby will start moving again when the new mom to be wants to lie down and take a rest. The baby at this week has become aware of the sounds happening outside of the womb.

Changes With Your Body

As the pregnancy progresses, you will start to itch more and that is due in part to dry skin. By staying hydrated, drinking 8 to 9 ounces of water a day can really help with dry skin. Cocoa Butter and Aloe Vera are great for dry skin. You can use a moisturizer as well. You may or may not noticing stretch marks, if you do Cocoa Butter is the best thing to use. As we mentioned there is excessive sweating that comes with this week in pregnancy. You may want to use cornstarch powder and take showers a few times a day. Stay away from drinks with caffeine they tend to just make you even more thirsty.

Some women may experience some heart palpitations, fainting spells and some dizziness. This could be due to the iron deficiency we mentioned earlier. Your doctor will want to test your blood for anemia. The baby’s red blood cells are still developing so make sure that you have your blood tested. The dizziness could be caused by low blood sugar, you will need to maintain your diet and eat small snacks throughout the day to prevent this from happening.

Hypotension is also common in pregnancy; this happens when you lie sideways, but lying on your back could cause heartburn as well as breathing problems. Try to keep your feet elevated while sleeping on your side. You may experience round ligament pain; this pain comes from the abdomen from one of the other hip area. The may could increase to the groin but these are pains can be alleviated, ask your doctor if you are feeling these aches and pains. They will have some recommendations as to what you can do.

What To Expect

Your baby is starting to become aware of sounds outside the womb; they can be startled by sounds from the outside. They may respond to the mom and the dad’s voices but if there are siblings, you should encourage them to talk to the baby too. You don’t have to shout at the baby, nice smooth soft sounds would be best.

You should stay away from any over the counter medications as well as any herbal remedies. These herbal remedies tend to relax the muscles and they could be a risk to a miscarriage. At this point of your pregnancy, you can relax knowing you are past the danger spot but it still is possible for something to go wrong.

Talk to your doctors about any fears or concerns that you may have. This is really the best time for you to sit down with your partner and your doctor and have a talk about what to expect now and further down the line.

Tips/Advice

You may not remember any or all of the feelings that you had during this pregnancy. Try keeping a journal of every day of your pregnancy. Then after the baby is born and perhaps years later, you can look back and share these feelings with your child. Have your partner take pictures of you at every month of your pregnancy and make a scrapbook for your child. It will make them feel special, as they get older.

Make sure that you voice any concerns about how you are feeling to your doctor. You should be relaxing and enjoying your pregnancy. Sharing the experience with friends and family will mean a lot to them as well.

18 Weeks Pregnant

As you progress more into the second trimester, you will start to notice that your appetite is increasing. This will happen over the remainder of your pregnancy. As the baby grows they are absorbing all of the nutrients as that happens your appetite will increase. This can be where women get into trouble when gaining weight. You will have to increase the amount of food that you eat, try to keep it healthy. It isn’t always easy and it is ok but you have to eat the not so healthy foods in moderation. But keep in mind that what you are eating the baby is eating. Try avoiding heavy fried foods, these types of foods will not be beneficial to you or the baby and they may cause more heartburn. Try not to lie down right after you eat, this will alleviate the heartburn that you may be feeling. Add a bit of exercise to your routine, you don’t have to exercise every day but try taking a 20-minute walk every day. This will help keep you healthy as well as prevent heartburn.
By this week, your cardiovascular system is undergoing some major changes. Your blood pressure may drop lower than it normally is. You may experience dizziness when getting up from a seated position. Try to keep fruit juice or a small snack on hand. If these persist or get worse, contact your doctor. Your doctor may perform an ultrasound test to check on the growth of the baby. Women who are high risk will have more sonograms than women who are not. It is important at this stage of pregnancy that you get plenty of rest and listen to your body more.

Baby’s Development
By now the baby’s CR or Crown to Rump length should be approximately 5-1/2 inches and the baby will now weigh around 5.25 ounces. The baby is continually growing at a nice, safe pace. The baby is still developing fat layers but this week, the baby will slow down for a bit. In the last month or so the baby will gain about ½ a pound every week.
At week eighteen, doctors can determine if the baby has any heart abnormalities with the aid of the ultrasound machine. If there are positive signs or unconfirmed signs of abnormalities the doctors will continue to do some testing. The baby will keep moving more and more as the uterus expands. You will start to feel more movement as the weeks go on.
Your baby could be doing somersaults in the uterus and they can even sit cross-legged. The baby’s hearing is more advanced and they can hear sounds as well as the sound of your voice. If they become startled they may start kicking. The baby will become familiar with the sound of your heartbeat and other voices like the dad. The blood continues to go through the umbilical cord. You can hear the baby’s heartbeat but if you invest in a stethoscope you can hear the baby’s heartbeat whenever you want.
The baby can flex their arms and legs, which result in many fetal movements. There is a protective layer being formed call the Myelin, this forms around the nerves that will actually continue to protect the nerves up to year after birth.

Changes With Your Body

By now you will be able to feel the uterus right below the stomach. At week eighteen the uterus is about the size of a cantaloupe. By now, an average weight gain would be about 10 pounds or so. Every woman is different, if you have any concerns about your weight, it is important to speak to your doctor right away. You may also start to use the bathroom more often. As the pregnancy progresses the baby will at some point be putting pressure right on the bladder.

There is a condition called Postural Hypotension, this condition will cause dizziness in some women. This condition can decrease by slowing standing up and to slowly sit down. You will also see some continued changes in the breasts. The areolas will become darker and the breasts will be tender. Some women will have an increase in breast size. Many women may experiences some indigestion problems as well as constipation or even piles. Do not take any over the counter medication unless you speak to a doctor first.
Many women will have a lot of itchiness; this can be caused by tight fitting clothes or undergarments. Wear cleaner clothes and more loose fitting clothes too. If you start to see stretch marks try using an aloe lotion or anti wrinkle creams.

What To Expect
By now, you may have read some baby books that have said that some women can feel their baby’s movements. Not every woman can but don’t worry, the baby has plenty of time to start kicking up a storm. If you have strong muscles in the abdomen or are a bit overweight in that area, you may not be able to feel the movements of the baby right now.
At this point in pregnancy, the doctors will be able to tell if you are having more than one baby. The chances of multiple births are not as common as you may think and the moms who are having more than two babies are a result of infertility drugs. Teenage moms are also more likely to have multiple births as well as pre-term deliveries.
To keep up your energy, you want to snack more often during the day, but stay away from empty calories. If you are not sure what you should be eating ask your doctor they can help you with nutrition.

Tips/Advice
Keep taking your prenatal vitamins and stay hydrated. Relaxing and enjoying the pregnancy is the best thing that you can do right now. Keep following your doctors’ advice and get plenty of rest. If you want to start looking at baby names, it can be a fun way to pass the time. Nine months is a long time, especially if you found out early that you were expecting.

Article Source : www. pregnancyweeks.us

17 Weeks Pregnant

By this week in your pregnancy, you will find yourself much more relaxed and feeling much more comfortable. You body has adjusted to the hormonal changes as well as the physical changes. Every week or month from now on may bring you more symptoms. For example, during week seventeen, you may experience a rash or some kind of allergies. These usually happen when there is a change in your diet or if you are taking a medical prescription. Talk to your doctor before taking any medication for the rashes or the allergies. There are only a handful of over the counter medications that are safe for you during the pregnancy.

By now you will more aware of the baby’s movements. You will start to feel fluttering in the belly that is the baby. If you don’t feel anything, don’t worry every woman is different. Within the next couple of weeks you will start feeling something more solid than fluttering. You may start to feel cramping or achy if you sit or stand in one place for a long period of time. These can subside by simply changing positions slowly. If you start feeling dizzy or lightheaded, lie down with your feet elevated. Try to keep up your blood sugar with small snacks during the day.

Baby’s Development

By now the baby should be approximately 6-1/2 inches long and weigh in about 4 ounces. The baby will be gaining more weight faster at the end of the pregnancy. The umbilical cord will become thicker and longer as the pregnancy progresses. The cord carries the blood and the nutrients to the baby. The baby will have adipose tissues to help regulate the baby’s temperature. By now when you look on a sonogram, you will be able to see very distinctive facial features.

The baby will start holding his or her head more upright and there are pads forming on the fingers and toes of the baby’s hands and feet. The baby’s eyes are now fully developed but they remain closed. The baby’s skeleton will start to change from all cartilage to bones and the bones will then become more flexible, this will help the baby travel through the birth canal.

The baby will be protected by a covering called vernix. The baby will develop brown fat spots under the skin that will help keep maintain the baby’s temperature when the baby is born. The baby is starting to gain noticeable weight and is now heavier than the placenta. The baby can now hear noises and voices and can jump when they are startled by a loud noise.

Changes With Your Body

By now you should be showing that baby bump. The abdomen is growing and your internal organs will soon start shifting in order to make room for the baby. The top part of the uterus has become more rounded creating the baby bump. For example, the uterus will start moving up your intestines and out to the side of your abdomen, so you will be able to feel the uterus when you are standing up rather than lying down.

You may experience aggravation of the sciatic nerve; this nerve runs down from the uterus to the foot. This is common during pregnancy, it happens when the baby is putting pressure nerve when you sit or stand for a long period of time. The best way to avoid this at night is to sleep with a pillow between your knees. This will come in handy as your pregnancy progresses.

Your body will increase secretions because of the increased amount of blood; you may experience excessive sweating as well. You may start to feel more congested because of the increased blood flow to the mucus membrane. Some women experience vaginal discharges but it is normal. If you have any questions or concerns call your doctor.

You should continue on taking the prenatal vitamins and eating a balanced diet. This isn’t always possible so taking the vitamins becomes more important than ever. You want to stay as hygienic as possible, always wear clean clothes, if you start to sweat excessive, change your clothes. You may start to shower more it will prevent may infections from starting.

What To Expect

By now, you know how you are going to feel and how to control it. The baby is still growing so your body is going to continue to go through changes so you are going to go through the normal aches and pains of pregnancy. Once you start to notice that the baby is moving then you will start to feel blessed that you are pregnant. Depending on your height and weight, you may already be showing and but every woman is different. But don’t panic, at your next doctor’s visit you can talk to him about the growth of the baby.

At every doctor’s visit you will have your blood pressure tested, along with urine tests and weight monitoring. These are all done to help protect the health of the baby. The Alpha-Fetoprotein Test or AFP is performed between the 15th and 17th week. The Triple Test is also performed; these two tests will help determine the chromosome counts for your baby. These tests are harmless blood tests; they won’t harm the baby at all.

Sometimes the doctor may do a fetal ultrasound, this can be done in 3D and 4D so you can see what your baby really looks like. The later on the pregnancy if it won’t hurt the baby. It is really impressive to see what the baby looks like. Another test that is done to test for birth defects is the Amniocentesis; this test is scary to moms because the doctor has to use a needle to insert into the uterus to get a sample of the amniotic fluid to test for the birth defects. There is always a small risk of miscarriage if the needle gets to close to the baby. Talk about your concerns to the doctor before the test.

Tips/Advice

During this week of pregnancy, you are going to have a lot of testing done. Make sure that is you have any questions that you ask your doctor. The amniocentesis is not mandatory but it is extremely helpful in determining if there are any birth defects. Talk to your partner and make your decision together. At this stage of the pregnancy, you will want to include your partner more than ever before because there are such great changes happening now and more in the coming months.

Article Source : www. pregnancyweeks.us

16 Weeks Pregnant

During this week of pregnancy an occurrence called quickening may be happening. Quickening is when you start to feel the baby move. This happens between the 16th and 20th week. You feel kicks until the sixth or seventh month. What you will start to feel a small fluttering in your stomach, if you aren’t aware that this happens, you won’t think that it is the baby and dismiss it as something else. So, when it happens pay attention to it, it is the first signs of the baby’s movement.

At the sixteenth week, your doctor may recommend that you undergo some antenatal testing. These tests will test the baby for genetic problems or abnormalities. As we mentioned in week fifteen, the immune system is weakened because of the pregnancy. Conditions like the flu and the common cold can be treated with doctor recommended treatments but you should stay away from potential places where you may be prone to catching chicken pox or rubella.

The doctor may also recommend additional testing such as AFP, triple test or amniocentesis. These tests will let the doctor know how the baby’s development is progressing. You can ask your doctor if there are any prenatal classes that you can enroll in, you can learn more about the rest of your pregnancy as well as what happens during childbirth.

Baby’s Development

By week sixteen the baby is about 17.5 cm and 160 g in weight. The baby has more space in the uterus and will start moving around a lot more. The baby can grab, kick and even do somersaults in the uterus. As the baby gets bigger the tighter the space will be and you will start to feel more of these movements. The baby will start to suck and in the sonograms you will notice the baby stop swallowing if a bitter taste in found in the amniotic fluid.

The baby can get hiccups too, as the baby grows you will know when the baby has the hiccups, you will be able to feel it. At this stage the baby will react to strong visual stimulation and will use their hands to protect their eyes from strong visuals. By now the baby and the placenta are about the same size. The head and the neck are straighter and you may be able to tell the sex of the baby if the baby is in the right position when a sonogram is done.

By now the baby ‘s urinary system and the circulatory system are beginning to function better. The baby will now start pumping about 25 quarts of blood a day. When you reach the end of the pregnancy at about 40 weeks the baby is expected to increase that amount to 1900 quarts a day.

Changes With Your Body

Week sixteen is a crucial week in your pregnancy. This is the week when doctors will want to check for Down’s Syndrome or Spina Bifida. There are tests called AFP testing. There is nothing you need to do; it is a blood test that has no risk for the baby at all. Within a week or less, you can have the results for the test. You will also experience your milk glands have started to produce breast milk. The breast veins will become more visible as more blood is pumped into the breasts.

You will continue to feel aches and pains as the baby continues to grow. Backaches are the most common during pregnancy, by relaxing and resting you can alleviate the pain. They say when you are pregnant that you feel clumsier and accident-prone that has been attributed to the back pain. Your belly will be expanding every week now. This is happens naturally but when you add rapid weight gain to the mix, stretch marks will soon appear. You can slow down stretch marks but keeping your weight gain in check.

You may want to start sleeping on your side rather than on your back. Use plenty of pillows as it takes to make you feel more comfortable. It also takes the strain and pressure off of your belly.

What To Expect

You will start to exude that pregnancy glow. The actual glow is due in part to the increased blood flow to the skin. You can start to have more fun being pregnant and embrace the next 8 months. You should have no more morning sickness or fatigue and your mental state should improve greatly. You are by now used to being pregnant so the adjustment time may be over. You may start experience quickening (small flutters in the stomach); this is the baby moving around the uterus. You will start to feel more and more of these feelings as the month’s progress.

When this starts to happen, you may not even realize that it is actually the baby moving. The baby’s movement will increase as time goes on. You will continue to gain weight but try to keep it under control. Try to eat more fruits and vegetables in your diet. If you have any questions regarding your eating plan or about the AFP testing, now is the time to ask.

Tips/Advice

Week sixteen is an important week in pregnancy, if you have any genetic history now would be the time to mention it to the doctor. This testing is very important to the pregnancy. Discuss your fears and concerns with your partner as well as the doctor. Stress is not good for you or the baby. Stay on track with taking your vitamins and eating right.

Make sure that you keep on going to your appointments. You should be enjoying the sonograms and hearing the heartbeat every time you go. Seeing the baby’s growth is something very amazing. The heartbeat is the best sound in the world. Enjoy this while you can, it really is an exiting time not for the new mom to be but for the dad to be as well.

Article Source : www. pregnancyweeks.us

15 Weeks Pregnant

You should be starting to enjoy the perks of pregnancy ay week fifteen. You should be feeling stronger and mentally rested too. The second trimester is the most calming of the entire pregnancy. The first trimester leaves you will morning sickness and fatigue and the as the baby grows bigger the body will start to feel aches and pains. The second trimester offers a middle ground. You will start to expand your baby bump and now is the time that others will see you are pregnant and it not just weight gain.

You should have gained approximately 5 pounds by now. If you have gained more, don’t worry. If you start gaining too much the doctor will let you know. If you are not gaining enough, the doctor will advise you on what you need to do if anything to help maintain your weight during the pregnancy. You may experience more head colds or stuffiness this will have something to do with the increased estrogen levels, this can actually cause swelling of the mucus membrane causing these nasal problems.

Pregnancy tends to change your immune system a bit. You are more likely to get infections, colds and even the flu. It is highly recommended that pregnant women receive their flu shots. Talk to your doctor at the beginning of cold season and get the shots right away. Try keeping a humidifier or a vaporizer near by and remember to stay hydrated.

Baby’s Development

At week fifteen the baby will measure in approximately 4” long and about 1-.3/4 ounces. The baby will develop what is called Lanugo, this happens when the red and wrinkles head becomes covered with fine hairs. Like each pregnancy is different, each baby develops differently in the uterus. The hair will help the baby maintain a constant body temperature. But the Lanugo will disappear when the baby is born.

By now the baby can swallow food and one of the best parts is that the baby can hear you and hear sounds. So now would be a great time to start talking to the baby. Some new moms will place headphones on their belly so the baby can hear music. Some new moms at this stage may or may not be able to feel their babies move around but the baby’s are more active in the womb now.

The baby’s legs are longer than the arms but now the body is longer than the head. The taste buds are developing and the fingernails and toenails are growing as well. The three bones in the middle ear are harder making improvements in the hearing. The amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby also carries an external sounds that travel to the baby. They can hear prominent sounds like the mother’s heartbeat, stomach and even her voice.

Changes With Your Body

Weight gain is always a concern with pregnant women. By this week in pregnancy women gain an approximately 5 pounds. You may have gained more than that. But is nothing to worry about if you are a pound or two over. At the end of the pregnancy an average between 25 to 35 pounds are usually gained but you hear stories of women who have gained 40, 50 or even 60 pounds. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about weight gain.

You can actually feel the top of your uterus about four to five inches below the belly. The doctor will start measuring your belly at the appointments until the end of your pregnancy. This is called the Fundal Height, this is used to measure and monitor the baby’s growth and even the position of the baby. The doctor can get an idea if the baby is in the breech position, as you get further along.

You may start to feel the ligaments stretching in your abs. The uterus will expand and cause cramps. You may feel some twitches or a pulling sensation to one or both sides of the abdomen. This is normal but it is your body and your pregnancy and if you have the slightest concern call your doctor right away. Taking a warm bath can help alleviate the pains. Never take any over the counter or prescription medication without consulting with your doctor first.

You will want to be careful of some common bacterial infections that many women come down with during pregnancy. Urinary Tract infections, Bacterial Vaginosis and Yeast Infections. Urinary Tract and Yeast Infections are common to some women without being pregnant. Buy bacterial Vaginosis can cause pre term delivery and a rupture to the amniotic membrane that surround the baby. Tract and Yeast Infections can cause kidney infections if they are not taken care of. Visit your doctor right away if you think you could have any of these infections. They can be treated, never take any over the counter medication before talking to your doctor.

To prevent these infections wear clean clothes every day and wear loose fitting clothes. Try not to spend too much time in bodies of water including the swimming pool or the bathtub avoid hot tubs altogether. Stay away from perfumes and body sprays. Stay hydrated by drinking at least 8 to 9 glasses of fluids a day.

What to Expect

While every one is different, may you start to experience sleeping problems? As the pregnancy goes along you may have a hard time getting comfortable. Your baby bump is still small at this stage of the pregnancy so you may not have any problems right now sleeping on your back. Sleeping on your back can cause the uterus to put pressure on the heart and the inferior vena cava this supplies the blood to the baby and the lower portion of your body. Sleeping on your side may avoid that. It is a good idea to practice sleeping on your side right from the start. It will be better off for the baby. Try adding extra pillows to elevate your legs or sleep with a pillow between your knees, it sounds crazy but it actually does work.

Tips/Advice

You should be attending all of your doctor’s appointments and listening to all of the doctors’ recommendations. Continue taking your vitamins and try to eat a bit healthier. There are plenty of books out there and websites that you can check out when it comes to eating right. Now that you have entered into your second trimester, you can start to look for baby names without worrying. Relax and have fun, you only get 9 months to enjoy the pregnancy.