So you just found out your going to have multiples! Now what? Believe it or not, being pregnant with multiples is a completely different experience than being pregnant with only one child. Your pregnancy may be more difficult, you will need to take better care of yourself and eat differently, and you also increase your risk for several complications that can occur. Although it may seem scary, being pregnant with multiples can be a very exciting and rewarding experience.

 

If you are planning a pregnancy in the near future, you may want to consider preconception counseling. In a preconception visit, women are screened for health and potential risk factors prior to becoming pregnant. These visits are valuable for both women with chronic health conditions. Many doctors are now recommending preconception counseling to all their patients.

 

 

Perhaps the biggest benefit of preconception counseling is knowledge. A health problem or potential risk factor that is found prior to conception can prevent serious complications later. Unhealthy lifestyle choices can be changed prior to the pregnancy to increase the likelihood of a healthy baby and mother.

 

If a health condition is present, it is generally best to get it under control prior to pregnancy. For example, if the doctor discovers that a woman has undiagnosed high blood pressure, this can be treated through lifestyle changes or medication. The doctor will evaluate any health conditions and suggest ways to get the condition under control prior to pregnancy.

If you are pregnant and find that things are slipping your mind, you are not alone. Most women report some degree of forgetfulness during pregnancy. While frustrating, this is completely normal. Pregnancy affects every part of your body, including the mind. Fortunately, there are ways that you can cope with this problem and still finish the tasks you need to accomplish.

 

There have actually been studies done on this phenomenon. A study published in The Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing showed that 68% of participants reported changes in memory. Fifty four percent reported difficulty in concentration and 52% reported absentmindedness during pregnancy.

 

A 1997 study published in the New Scientist looked at changes in the brains of pregnant women as a possible explanation for forgetfulness. This study looked at brain images and found an increase in the pituitary gland and a small shrinkage in the overall size of the brain in the third trimester. These researchers suggest that more study is needed in this area. Check out: http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/absentmindedness

One of the first questions you will have when you discover you are pregnant is when is the baby due? This is also the first question that friends and family members will ask when you tell them you are expecting. You don’t have to wait until you visit the doctor to find out. You can easily calculate your due date at home.

 

To calculate your due date, you will need to know the date of your last menstrual period.

If you don’t have any idea when you last had a period, or if your periods are very irregular, calculating the due date becomes even more difficult. On the other hand, if you were undergoing treatments for infertility, you may have an exact conception date and this will make calculating the due date easier.