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.

14 Weeks Pregnant

By the fourteenth week of pregnancy you would have told family and friends the good news. Now you have an army of support to make sure that you are taking care of yourself. By this week in your pregnancy, you should be adjusting to all of the changes of your body. You should pretty much be used to being pregnant, the baby is still continuing to grow and you should be getting ready for your fourth month doctor’s check up. Every month at the doctor you should be getting your blood pressure checked, your urine checked and your weight checked. By the next month or so, it all seems very routine.

You will also see more physical changes in your body, your waist may be a bit fuller, this is due to the uterus being moved upwards causing the belly to start showing more. By now the baby is 100% formed and fore the remainder of the pregnancy is spent developing their organs, skin and systems. At this week in pregnancy, the placenta is starting to work. Like the previous weeks, you cannot see the changes in the baby unless you are scheduled for a sonogram.

Most new moms won’t be able to feel the baby moving until the sixth or seventh month. This is when the baby becomes much bigger and the movements can be felt in the uterus. As long as you continue to eat healthy and get plenty of rest the baby will continue to grow.

Baby’s Development

At the start of the second trimester, the baby is fully formed and will continue to grow as long as you provide the baby with the right foods. You should be eating a bit healthier and you should be staying away from fried foods or fatty foods. The baby’s system is in place and will only grow and development as the weeks and months go by. The baby’s organs are more established and the baby’s heart rate is twice as fast as your own. So when you hear the heartbeat at your doctor’s appointment don’t panic that it is too fast, it is supposed to be that way.

13 Weeks Pregnant

You now have officially entered the second trimester. At this stage of the pregnancy is where most families especially the new mom to be starts to celebrate. The risk for miscarriage has greatly reduced and the odds are in your favor that you will carry the baby full term. Also gone will be the morning sickness and the fatigue that you may have experienced in the first trimester. You will start to feel more energetic and your mental state will start to show improvements.

You will also start to show off your baby bump in this stage of pregnancy. The baby is still small in size but as the baby grows the uterus grows as well. You will your appetite grow as well and this is due in part of the baby taking the nutrients that you are taking in. Don’t feel that you have to stuff yourself, eat in moderation even if you eat a few times a day. The important thing is that you continue to eat right as long as you are healthy the baby is healthy.

Check with your doctor and see how they feel about any weight gain or loss you are experiencing. Sometimes doctors will recommend certain foods that are good for the mom and the baby. You should continue to limit your intake of caffeine drinks as well.

Baby’s Development

By now the baby is growing at a good pace, they measure approximately 2-1/2 to 3 inches and they weigh about .7 ounces. By the end of this week the baby is a full-formed baby. The head is still a bit larger than the rest of the body, but that will soon change. The baby’s eyes are starting to come closer together and the intestines and the organs are finding their places. The baby’s pancreas is starting to create insulin, this is important at this stage because it will help regulate the sugar levels for the baby after they are born.

The baby’s bones are still soft and a bit flexible but as the weeks progress they will become harder. It is imperative at this stage to keep taking your prenatal vitamins and drink plenty of milk. The baby will also start climbing and moving around the in the uterus. Though the baby is moving, you won’t be able to feel it yet. The placenta is functioning fully now and the baby is receiving oxygen, vitamins, minerals and proteins. The placenta also works as a filter that keeps carbon dioxide and waste out of the baby’s area.

The placenta is rather large in size but it allows most of the intake from the mom to cross into the baby’s bloodstream, this is how the baby gets his or her nutrients. But keep in mind that all of the good that goes to the baby, the bad goes as well. So stay away from alcohol, medications and even caffeine. At this week, the baby will have their first bowel movement called meconium.

Changes With Your Body

At week thirteen, the uterus will continue to grow in the up position. The pelvic bones are now able to take the pressure off the bladder. You will see your waistline start to get bigger. This will cause some aches in the abdomen, you may also experience round ligament pain, this occurs when the ligaments that surround the uterus stretch. These can be sharp pains in the abdomen that come with a dull achy feeling in the lower abs. This usually happens when you make a sudden movement like getting up or change positions.

This is normal, unless you start experiencing vomiting with this pain. Then you should call your doctor right away. This pain can be alleviate by simply relaxing and be very careful as you get up now. Some women have been diagnosed with what is called an incompetent cervix, this happens when the cervix becomes weal and it only opens about 2.5 cm during the pregnancy. Talk to your doctor and ask him to explain this condition more and your chances of having it.

Only about 25% of women who have this condition are detected with an ultrasound. This is one of the main reasons why miscarriages occur in the second trimester. The reasons why a woman may have this condition may be from a congenital disorder, cervical trauma or a previous D&C. But there is a remedy call Cerclage, this can be done to stitch and close the uterus so the uterus is capable of delivering the baby full term.

What To Expect

At this time, you may start to see stretch marks on your abdomen and on your breasts. Stretch marks sounds like the kiss of death for a women, but you can decrease the change of having them by gaining your pregnancy weight slowly. You don’t have to pile on the pounds in the first trimester, if you are having trouble with your weight, talk to your doctor; they may be able to slow you down a bit.

You may still have heartburn at this stage of pregnancy. You can reduce this by drinking a lot of fluids and eating the right foods. A small exercise routine like swimming or walking may reduce you heartburn as well. Stay away from heavy, greasy foods this can contribute a lot to the heartburn you may be feeling.

Your breast size will start to increase; this is because your body is preparing for lactation. They will continue to grow bigger as the pregnancy increases and will decrease weeks after the baby is born. The baby is a lot more flexible at this week in pregnancy. Many women and men question if they should be having sex throughout the pregnancy. Sex will not hurt the baby in anyway because the baby is well protected with the amniotic fluid but if you have a history of miscarriages, premature births or infections you will want to consult your doctor to see if it is possible at this stage.

Tips/Advice

Follow your doctor’s orders. This is very important during a pregnancy. Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated. By now you probably have a copy of a baby book. Remember that all pregnancies are different and these books are general guides. So don’t get upset if you read something in a book and is doesn’t pertain to you at your stage in pregnancy. Relax and enjoy your pregnancy.

Article Source : www.pregnancyweeks.us

Evaluating and Treating Male Infertility

When suffering from infertility concerns, couples often turn to a fully equipped fertility clinic. Male infertility may be a tricky subject for some couples, so receiving expert advice and assistance is often more than welcomed. In cases where the couple is unsure of the precise cause of their infertility, a fertility specialist may put both partners through several tests and examinations to pinpoint the problem. Once the source of their infertility has been established, they may begin advising the couple on possible treatment options.

Male infertility treatments may vary greatly depending on the specific problem or condition the patient is suffering from. In some cases, medicines may be used while in others surgery or other procedures may be necessary. There are three basic treatment categories dedicated to this problem: drug therapy, assisted reproductive technologies and surgery. The treatment used in each individual case is designed to correct any mechanical or other problems the patient may have that are preventing him from effectively reproducing

Assisted reproduction is a broad category that includes several different treatments. Different methods are often used to obtain sperm, achieve insemination and to treat or cure erectile dysfunction. In vitro fertilization and other assisted reproductive technologies have been used to help couples conceive when natural conception is either difficult or impossible.

Choosing Baby Names

Take Your Time
The worst thing you could do when choosing a baby name is to rush into it. Settling for second best may affect you and your child for a lifetime! Don't commit yourself to the first name that you fancy. Keep searching until you find a name that you are 110% happy with. And don't forget that you don't need to have a name for your baby before birth. Some parents have been known to wait 2 or 3 weeks before deciding on that perfect name.

What Does it Mean?
Some parents don't really care for the meaning of their baby's name, where as others base their decision solely around it. But, in our opinion a quick check couldn't hurt. Do you really want your big strong boy to have a name that means "pretty flower"? If you have a meaning in mind, but don't know what names contain that meaning, visit our baby names and meanings database.

Spelling
Try to make sure you don't choose a name that ends with the same letter that your last name begins with. This can sometimes make pronunciation a challenge. There are some exceptions to this rule, but in general it is best to keep it in mind when choosing a baby name. Try it for yourself and you'll see what we mean. Letters like "l" and "s" are especially bad.

Say it Out Loud
Instead of referring to your unborn baby as he or she or "the baby", try using one of the names that you like for a week or so. Saying it out loud and using it in common sentences will give you a better idea of how much you really like the name. Don't forget, some names look great when written on paper, but sound terrible off the tongue.

12 Weeks Pregnant

Congratulations! You have entered into the second trimester. If you haven’t announced your pregnancy, now is a good of time as any. Some women may feel a sense of relief as they enter into the second trimester. They may relax more and start to enjoy being pregnant. Some women may have started to show while others may not. Don’t be alarmed if you don’t see any physical changes, the important thing is that the internal changes are developing at a nice pace.

Physically, you will start to feel less nausea and less tired. It is still best not to exert yourself but do everything in moderation. You will see your energy levels increase, now would be a good time to implement an exercise program such as low impact aerobics or yoga. By starting a moderate exercise program you can stay healthy during the pregnancy. Exercise during the pregnancy will also help your body recover quicker than someone who did not exercise.

Baby’s Development

As you enter into the second trimester, the baby is growing quickly in the 12th week of pregnancy. The brain will start producing hormones and the nerve cells are multiplying very quickly. The baby will start to suck and swallow food. The kidneys will start to actually produce urine as opposed to amniotic fluid. If things are progressing the baby will grow in size and in length.

11 Weeks Pregnant

You are now one week away from completing your first trimester. You should be feeling a sense of relief. The morning sickness should all have disappeared and the fatigue you may have experienced is subsiding as well. You should be slowly gaining weight; doctors recommend by the first three months a weight gain of 3 to 4 pounds is a good place to start.

Don’t be discouraged if it turns out that you gained a bit more or less. Some women tend to lose weight in the first trimester due to morning sickness. Your doctor is monitoring your weight and they will let you know if they think the weight is too much or too little.

In this stage of pregnancy, this would be the best time to travel if you have any plans to do so. Once you are in the third trimester, it is not recommended that you travel far or travel often. So the second trimester is the best time to do so. You will start to see your stomach expanding a little bit. The more the uterus grows the more you will start to show. Try to include your partner in everything that you are feeling, they cannot experience the changes that are happening so it would make them feel more included if you were to share your experiences.

Baby’s Development

At week eleven of your pregnancy, the baby is completely formed and will continue to grow and develop until the day the baby is born. The baby’s head becomes a major part of the baby; in fact the baby’s head is about half the length of the body. The fingers and toes are separated completely and the baby’s bones are starting to harden. If you look at the sonogram, you will see that the skin is still transparent.